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【Translator：Ya-Hsin Wan】

【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】

2024-07-31  The National University of Kaohsiung held a gratitude and succession ceremony for the outgoing and incoming presidents. Professor Chi-Jen Chen of the Department of Architecture will officially become the 7th President on August 1st. He emphasized the promotion of four major development strategies: "cross-disciplinary innovation," "industry collaboration," "local practice," and "international alignment," along with seven main themes and thirty action plans to ensure continuous progress for the NUK. Additionally, on behalf of the university, he presented a colored glaze to the outgoing President, Yueh-Tuan Chen, to express gratitude and recognition for her achievements over the past four years. The Mayor of Kaohsiung Chi-Mai Chen attended the ceremony to convey his appreciation for the long-term support both individuals have provided in promoting the city's governance.

Chi-Jen Chen stated that taking over the role of the president means bearing significant responsibility while striving for mutual success. The National University of Kaohsiung was founded under the visionary planning of its founding President, Ren-Hong Wang, and has seen diligent leadership from subsequent presidents, including Ing-Chung Huang, Jow-Lay Huang, Shyue-Liang Wang, and Yueh-Tuan Chen. These leaders have not only overcome difficult challenges but have also bravely opened new chapters for the university. In particular, the recent governance achievements are evident in the recent university affairs evaluation, where the National University of Kaohsiung not only passed but also received a six-year accreditation.

Chi-Jen Chen pointed out that among the four major development strategies, "cross-disciplinary innovation" will integrate global sustainability issues, establish a cross-disciplinary learning mechanism, display departmental characteristics, and create a balance between the humanities and technology to cultivate the talents needed for the next generation. "Industry collaboration" will leverage diverse cross-disciplinary expertise to connect with high-tech industries, assisting small and medium enterprises in transformation and sustainable operations.

Chi-Jen Chen emphasized that the four major development strategies extend into seven main themes: diverse teaching, integrated research capabilities, effective space management, implementation of administrative reforms, shared resource platforms, establishing a low-carbon smart campus, and driving international connections. He expressed his aspiration to build a university governance team that can serve as a model for others to follow.

The outgoing president, Yueh-Tuan Chen, expressed that it was an honor to be elected as the 6th president four years ago. She claimed for "linking industry and society," responding to national policies, and emphasizing the university's value and social responsibility. During her tenure, the Department of Athletic Performance established a soccer team and a representative football team, which successively won the championships in the men's third and second levels of the University Football Association. Additionally, she strived for an artificial grass football field certified by FIFA.

Additionally, she collaborated with the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Education to establish an "Industry Talent Training Center" and partnered with the Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor to launch the "S Corridor Technology Industry Talent Training Center." She also joined forces with ASE Group to establish a university-level industry-academia collaboration center, demonstrating efforts to cultivate more semiconductor talent for the nation. Due to the active cultivation of students' cross-disciplinary abilities and the effective integration of learning and application, the university was honored in the "Cheers" survey of "2,000 Enterprises' Favorite University Graduates," ranking first among "Public General Medium-Sized Universities" for two successive years.

Chi-Jen Chen holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and is currently a professor in the Department of Architecture at the National University of Kaohsiung. His research expertise includes wood-frame building regulations and industry promotion strategies, sustainable design and optimization of post-disaster housing, development of expandable modular emergency housing systems, life cycle assessment and comparative studies of low-carbon buildings, and the revitalization of atypical buildings and the creation of innovative spaces. Within the university, he has served as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of General Affairs, and Director of the General Education Center.

Chi-Jen Chen has leveraged his expertise to dedicate himself to the preservation of cultural heritage buildings for an extended period. His efforts include projects such as the Zuoying Naval Dependents' Village, the Old City of Fengshan, and more recent undertakings like the Shoyoen Japanese Garden and Yancheng First Public Retail Market. In 2022, he was awarded the highest honor in the Kaohsiung arts and cultural circle, the "Kaohsiung Award for Arts," becoming the first recipient in the "Cultural Heritage" category.

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#SDG4