【Translator： Ya-Hsin Wan】

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

2025-03-29 The National University of Kaohsiung held its 25th Anniversary Celebration and Sports Day. In his speech, President Chi-Jen Chen reflected on the university’s development over the years, highlighted recent achievements in academic and industry-academia collaborations, and emphasized the united efforts of the entire university in continuously advancing and improving amid the fiercely competitive higher education landscape.

President Chi-Jen Chen pointed out that, according to the recently released Cheers magazine’s “2025 Survey of Employers' Most Favored University Graduates,” NUK was the only medium-sized university among the top 30, reflecting strong recognition of its alumni's performance in the workplace. He emphasized that this achievement represents the university’s commitment to its four key development strategies: “cross-disciplinary innovation,” “industry collaboration,” “local engagement,” and “internationalization.” These efforts not only enhance students’ core competencies and interdisciplinary abilities but also embody the university’s dedication to University Social Responsibility (USR), the promotion of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fostering shared prosperity with the local community—all of which have earned widespread recognition from society.

The National University of Kaohsiung’s academic research and innovative achievements have also drawn considerable attention. For example, Associate Professor Cheng-Hung Wang from the Department of Crafts and Creative Design has been leading the Ministry of Education’s “5G New Technology Learning Demonstration School Project.” In collaboration with educational partners from northern, central, and southern Taiwan, his team has delivered outstanding results in developing XR (extended reality) innovative applications and creating a digital collaborative learning environment.

Another example is the team led by Distinguished Professor Yi-Chang Chung from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, which has developed high-value applications for waste eggshells by creating "nano-scale photocatalytic materials." These materials can degrade organic pollutants, sterilize in an environmentally friendly manner, and are produced through a low-energy process. Their innovative results were also featured in this year’s “Kaohsiung Smart City Exhibition – Net-Zero Innovation Pavilion.”

Professor Ya-Ju Yu from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering led students in developing a real-time sign language recognition system called Voice of Sign, aimed at assisting the hearing-impaired by addressing communication challenges in daily life. This innovative project was selected for the National Science and Technology Council’s College Student Research Program and also won first place in the university’s “Student Creativity Competition – Startup Practice Category.”

The National University of Kaohsiung actively fulfills its University Social Responsibility (USR) by encouraging faculty and students to engage with local communities through science education and outreach initiatives. Professors Jau-Wern Chiou, Yeung-haw Ho, and Yao-Yuan Chuang from the College of Science have led multiple visits to indigenous villages as part of the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Sprout Project. They have organized science camps for students at Taoyuan Elementary School, aiming to plant the seeds of scientific curiosity from an early age and nurture future Indigenous science talent.

Professor Chin-Chung Yu from the Department of Applied Physics has been dedicated to promoting hands-on science education in local secondary schools such as Zuoying Senior High School, Nanzih Senior High School, Chung-Cheng Industrial High School, and Ke-Liao Junior High School. His efforts range from guiding students through semiconductor principles to building autonomous robotic vehicles. These initiatives have gained recognition from the corporate sector, leading to generous donations of equipment and instruments. The commitment of faculty and students not only demonstrates NUK's dedication to education but also reflects its deep care for society.

In response to global climate change and the nation’s industrial transformation needs, the National University of Kaohsiung has been actively promoting sustainable development policies. Since 2018, the university has published an annual Sustainability Report and completed a comprehensive campus-wide greenhouse gas inventory in 2022. Preparations for the 2024 edition are currently underway, aligning with the government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition, the university continues to advance its research centers and industry-academia collaboration projects to strengthen ties between academia and industry.

Chi-Jen Chen stated that the National University of Kaohsiung values cooperation with domestic and international higher education partners to enhance academic and research capabilities. For example, last year (2024), they invited teachers from National Sun Yat-sen University to their campus, and in mid-March of this year (2025), he led a team to visit in return. These efforts aim to promote mutual understanding and deepen cooperation, jointly enhancing the international competitiveness of higher education in the southern region and Taiwan as a whole.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the National University of Kaohsiung not only held a commemorative ceremony but also presented multiple awards, including Outstanding Alumni and Distinguished Professors, to recognize the exceptional achievements of alumni, faculty, and students, as well as express gratitude to their collaborative partners. The sports event took place at the track and field stadium, featuring various activities such as creative performances by faculty and students from different departments, track and field competitions, fun contests, and a tug-of-war. The concert, market, and art exhibition were lively events held around the student activity center and student dormitories.

#SDG4 #SDG17 @ Secretariat & Activities