Skip to main content
NCKU OSSD
中文
NCKU campus and city landscape

Advancing Sustainable Social Actions

Advancing Sustainable Social Actions

Connecting the City and the World, Driving Sustainability with Responsibility, Advancing Shared Prosperity through Education

University uses knowledge as a bridge to connect city and academia, actively pursuing pathways of sustainable and shared growth. With interdisciplinarity at its core, NCKU integrates internal and external expertise, collaborating with local governments, industries, and communities to promote resource sharing and policy alignment, strengthening the link between academic research and social practice. These efforts span environmental sustainability, industrial transformation, cultural preservation, and smart technology applications, embodying the spirit of co-creation and sustainable development.

NCKU main gate

The Role and Responsibility of Universities in Sustainability

The Role and Responsibility of Universities in Sustainability

NCKU regards University Social Responsibility (USR) as a core element in its governance and development, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster social awareness and practical capabilities among faculty and students. The University is committed to becoming a driving force for sustainable social development. In its 2023–2027 Mid-Term University Development Plan, NCKU defines its mission as follows:

  1. 01Strengthening social responsibility and impact, and developing resilience to address public issues
  2. 02Cultivating students’ problem-solving abilities
  3. 03Driving industrial development and supporting economic transformation and upgrading
  4. 04Engaging in regional governance integration to fulfill university social responsibility
SATU international forum

International Linkages

International Linkages

The Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities Presidents’ Forum (SATU), established in 2003, has grown into a major academic and research platform comprising 105 member universities across 10 countries. This year’s forum aims to further strengthen international networks and enhance higher education’s adaptability and responsiveness to global development.

Co-founded by NCKU and several leading universities in Southeast Asia in 2003, the forum is built on the foundation of university excellence to address regional needs in economic, social, and political development. By bringing together scholars and educational leaders for cross-border dialogue and knowledge exchange, the forum has become a forward-looking initiative that leverages higher education to foster national competitiveness and regional sustainable development.

Featured News

Featured News

2024 NCKU USR collaboration map

USR in NCKU

NCKU’s community engagement in Tainan spans 17 districts and is actively expanding to other counties and cities, extending the University’s social responsibility across Taiwan. Each initiative is grounded in specific social needs, addressing issues related to local development, social structures, and environmental protection through in-depth exploration and practice. The projects follow two main approaches: one based on spatial characteristics, focusing on local sustainable development, and the other on social issues, targeting solutions to the challenges faced by local communities.

Students participating in the Exploring Tainan course

Exploring Tainan

NCKU pioneered the local general education course Exploring Tainan, in collaboration with the Tainan City Government, 37 district offices, cultural and historical organizations, and NGOs. To date, the course has developed 45 field-study routes, and by 2023, over 20,000 students had completed it. Emphasizing diverse partnerships and brand impact, the course engages closely with local communities to advance place-based learning, establishing a distinctive model of teaching and social practice. Its success has also guided universities such as NCYU and NTHU in developing similar general education requirements, showcasing the strong integration of teaching and societal engagement.