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Ministry of Education Grants Full Approval to NCKU’s USR Projects

Written by Amber Tyan. Image credit to NCKU Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS).
 
At NCKU, “courageously fulfilling the social responsibilities of universities” is a core aspect of its administrative promotion and development.
 
This year, NCKU submitted five thematic projects on social responsibility, all of which received approval under the Ministry of Education's fourth-phase (2025-2027) University Social Responsibility (USR) Implementation Plan.
These include one international cooperation project, one characteristic sustainability project, two cultivation projects, and one emerging project. The five diverse project types and implementation aspects concretely demonstrate NCKU's long-term commitment to social responsibility practice issues.
 
The five approved social responsibility thematic projects this year are:
  1. "Urban-Rural Partnership for Sustainable Healthy Living: An East Asian Collaboration," led by Distinguished Professor Cheng-Ta Yang from the Department of Psychology (International Cooperation Type under Sustainable Development Category).
  2. "The Beauty and Sorrow of the Zengwen River: From Hydrology and Cultural History to the Establishment and Verification of AI Digital Sustainable Systems," led by Professor Yun-Che Wang from the Department of Civil Engineering (Characteristic Sustainability Type under Sustainable Development Category).
  3. "Collaborative Badlands 3.0: G.R.E.A.T. Building a Resilient and Green Network for a Shared Mountain Living Circle," led by Associate Professor Hsiu-Tzu Chang from the Department of Urban Planning (Cultivation Type under University Characteristic Category).
  4. "Heartfelt Actions in Xingangdong: Co-creating a Healing Ecological Art Village," led by Distinguished Professor Heng Chang from the Department of Architecture (Cultivation Type under University Characteristic Category).
  5. "From Clinic to Community: Life Hospitality for the Epidermolysis Bullosa Population," a new project this year led by Distinguished Professor Ming-Jer Tang from the Institute of Physiology (Budding Type under University Characteristic Category).

    相伴健康
    In response to an aging society, the International Cooperation-type USR project under the sustainable development category, ‘Urban-Rural Partnership for Sustainable Healthy Living: An East Asian Collaboration’  promotes interactive expertise
The Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences at NCKU serves as the most important support system behind NCKU's demonstration of USR. It has specially established the USR HUB, with Executive Vice President Professor Yuh-Neu Chen as the convener and Distinguished Professor Cheng-Ta Yang, the director of the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, as the executive director.
 
On both the university and local levels, the USR HUB fully supports the promotion of various projects, establishing issue-based and regional faculty communities. Through the "E-PCK Pedagogical Content Knowledge Practice Platform" and in conjunction with professional courses offered by various colleges aligned with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the hub builds interdisciplinary, issue-oriented faculty communities, therefore solidifying achievements in NCKU's academic fields, leading to the approval of all proposed projects by the Ministry of Education.
 
咖啡
The Characteristic Sustainability-type USR project under the sustainable development category, ‘The Beauty and Sorrow of the Zengwen River: From Hydrology and Cultural History to the Establishment and Verification of AI Digital Sustainable Systems’ promotes eco-friendly coffee industries
 
NCKU's implementation of the Ministry of Education's University Social Responsibility Implementation Plan covers five social practice themes, including Knowledge and Technology Translation, Cultural Heritage Recreation, Social Sustainability Think Tank, Intergenerational New Talent, and Inclusive Friendly Environment. These themes reflect NCKU's core spirit of practicing USR, proposing solutions to the challenges faced by Taiwanese society, genuinely responding to the needs of southern Taiwan, and practicing sustainable development in harmony with the region.
 
惡地協作
Entering its tenth year of engagement in mountain villages, the university characteristic cultivation-type project "Collaborative Badlands 3.0: G.R.E.A.T. Building a Resilient and Green Network for a Shared Mountain Living Circle"
 
Executive Vice President Professor Yuh-Neu Chen, serving as the convener of the USR Resource Center, has long been committed to promoting university social practice. This includes initiating the interdisciplinary general education course "Exploring Tainan," leading major regional projects funded by the National Science and Technology Council, and supporting and promoting USR across the university. She exemplifies NCKU's dedication to integrating general education and professional research into USR, and it is expected to lead to more concrete developments in the USR HUB.
 
Distinguished Professor Cheng-Ta Yang, executive director of the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, also stated that NCKU's "2023-2027 Mid-term University Development Plan" indicates that the goal of talent cultivation is for students to become aware of social issues during their studies, to respond to social needs with their research and service outcomes, and to actively participate in solving global issues. Therefore, evaluating the medium- and long-term effectiveness of NCKU's social responsibility cultivation has become an important responsibility of the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences.
 
新港東
The university characteristic cultivation-type USR project focused on developing the healing industry in rural areas: "Heartfelt Actions in Xingangdong: Co-creating a Healing Ecological Art Village"
 
NCKU aims to enhance educational quality, expand the depth and breadth of its social contributions, and establish talent cultivation and knowledge innovation as the foundation of the university's mission. The university not only serves as a think tank for the city but also views the city as a practical field for the university. Through systematic and continuous promotion, NCKU establishes the core concept of university students fulfilling social responsibility, promotes close connections between the university and society, inspires students' practicality, and is committed to caring for and responding to social needs with academic strength.
 
Simultaneously, NCKU actively advances global university USR cooperation and field linkages, developing major international issues related to global sustainable development. Through the university, it connects local issues with international trends to expand the diversity, depth, and breadth of talent cultivation.
 
 
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2025-02-13
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