National Chi Nan University Awarded First Place in USR University Civic Public General Medium-sized University Category by CommonWealth Magazine

Recently, President Wuu Dong Sing of National Chi Nan University (NCNU) went to the Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei to receive first place in the USR University Civic Public General Medium-sized University Category awarded by CommonWealth Magazine. NCNU is the only medium-sized university with fewer than 6,000 students to receive the maximum grant for five projects in the latest USR program cycle. Professor Wuu stated that NCNU is a comprehensive university with both international thinking and local practice and is moving towards becoming a "refined and sustainable international well-known university."

NCNU is a leader among Taiwanese universities in USR, boasting a vast 148-hectare campus and ranking 44th in the GreenMetric World University Ranking globally. Based on its past foundation in overseas Chinese education, NCNU hosts the overseas joint recruitment meetings responsible for the significant task of facilitating the return of overseas Chinese students (children of Chinese descendants) to study in Taiwan, covering 132 universities (71 public and private universities and colleges and 61 technical and vocational institutions). This positions NCNU favorably for international engagement and overseas student recruitment. Located in the uniquely blessed Puli, an early gathering place for indigenous and Han people, NCNU connects with local indigenous tribes (Seediq, Bunun, Atayal, and Thao) and traditional agriculture (water bamboo shoots, passion fruit) and is further enhanced by the nearby famous tourist attraction, Sun Moon Lake. These elements contribute to NCNU's strong local practice and support.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology's "Humanities Practice and Social Innovation Project" and the "University and Local Government Collaboration for Local Humanities Development and Cross-domain Governance Project" for over a decade, NCNU has recently become the leading brand in University Social Responsibility (USR) in Taiwan. This year, the university also excelled in the Ministry of Education's Higher Education Deep Cultivation Plan, receiving the highest grant amount among public general medium-sized universities in Taiwan. All five proposed USR projects were approved, receiving the maximum grant amount. These include the College of Humanities' "Meeting Southeast Asia at NCNU: Cultivating RAMTAU Spice Republic"; College of Education's "Walk Tall: Outdoor Education Learning Ecosystem Innovation Project"; Shuisalian College's "Shuisalian Future Education Action Alliance"; College of Management's "Shuisalian Industry Sustainable Development Project - Industry Linkage x Cross-domain Talent x International Cooperation"; and College of Technology's "Green Shuisalian Sustainable Value and Talent Cultivation Upgrade Project: Technology x Circular x Net-Zero." Notably, the College of Management and College of Technology projects received the highest national USR grant for "Sustainable Development International Cooperation Projects," each receiving 9.5 million NTD.

This year, NCNU continues to deepen its role in local practice by establishing the "Department of Nursing" and the "College of Nursing and Health Welfare," actively addressing the government's shortage of nursing talent. Future investments include hundreds of millions of NTD to renovate student dormitories, initiate top-tier butler-style dormitory management BOT tenders, complete the construction of the most extensive bilingual real-person library and language center in Taiwan, open a new student cafeteria area, offer shared scooter rentals, and provide the 699 unlimited monthly pass for the Zhongchang-Tou-Miao life circle with direct campus access via Taiwan Hao Xing. Last year, NCNU significantly improved the living conditions of Vision Project students (low-income, particular circumstances, near-poverty family students) through fundraising of 7 million NTD and providing scholarships. This year, the focus will be on top-tier and excellence programs, launching a master and elite student program, offering extra salaries to top-tier elite professors to retain and attract talent, and aligning with the talent sustainability program announced by Executive Yuan Vice Premier Cheng Wen-Tsan at the award ceremony. NCNU has always been a "comprehensive university with international thinking and local practice"; in the future, it will strive to become a "refined and sustainable international well-known university."