National Chi Nan University (NCNU) attended the 2020 National Sustainable Development Awards organized by the Executive Yuan’s National Sustainable Development Network on Nov. 30. In accepting an award for being a finalist in the educational category from Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), NCNU President Dr. Yuhlong Oliver Su explained that this honor belongs to all those who have worked for the university’s sustainable future across all areas, administrative and academic alike.
The honor follows the bestowment of gold and silver in the university social responsibility category of the 13th Corporate Sustainability Awards on Nov. 18. Other recent accolades include being named second in CommonWealth Magazine’s USR rankings for public universities that have a campus population of 6,000 members, and recognized as an extraordinary model of academic-industry partnership by Global Views Monthly.
Moreover, NCNU has been ranked as the world’s 63rd best university for “Responsible Consumption and Production” in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings this year. From boosting solar power to building eco-hotspots and nature reserves, some of the most exemplary initiatives include green campus design minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency for water, electricity, and resource consumption.
NCNU has been devoted to pursuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forth by the United Nations, incorporating the school’s campus planning and curriculum design with international outreach and sustainable progress.
Biodiversity has become a new marker for measuring development, educational programs across the board are taking inspiration from the environmental sciences, while research projects and community resources are becoming more integrated with regional needs through the Shui Sha Lian Research Center for Humanities Innovation and Social Practice, with the aforementioned solutions being shared and refined through partnerships with NCNU’s sister schools in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Named after the Shui Sha Lian region of central Taiwan, the center focuses on agricultural innovation and farming technology as well as bridging the rural-urban divide through education, senior-friendly services, civic collaboration, and other measures for facilitating sustainable development and embracing the university’s social responsibilities.
Working directly with the NCNU Center for General Education to develop a SDGs curriculum, Dr. Su aims to enhance the practical knowledge, global perspective, and humanitarian compassion of all participants. To perpetuate the school spirit of servicing the community, the university president works side-by-side with all those who work and study on campus to pursue sustainable practices and forge new partnerships through common goals.
Moreover, Su believes that NCNU should invest deeply and relentlessly in SDGs education, not because of the university’s international green standings and ties to environmentally proactive networks, but because that climate change is a proven, looming challenge that threatens all of humankind. His vision is for NCNU to become a rally point for professors, employees, students, local residents, neighboring businesses and institutions, and all those who wish to join the global movement in meeting this challenge to humanity’s very survival.
National Chi Nan University (NCNU) receives an award certificate for being a finalist in the educational category from the 2020 National Sustainable Development Awards of Taiwan.
