SDGs永續行動網
SDG11
永續城鄉
"UI GreenMetric World University Rankings": NUK Advances to 285th Place, Achieving Success in Promoting Environmental Sustainability.
【Translator : Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) series】2024-01-03 The National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) has once again made it to the world rankings! In the latest "UI GreenMetric World University Rankings," NUK's global ranking has risen from 319th to 285th place, entering the top quarter. This reflects the university's commitment to incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its core administrative governance, successfully practicing and promoting the concept of a green university.President Yueh-Tuan Chen of the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) stated that linking with society and industries, and responding to national policies, has always been the school's goal. In 2022, NUK took the lead in responding to the government's "Net Zero 2050" policy, declaring its commitment to the direction of becoming a "green university." In addition, the university has been actively installing public art to shape the cultural atmosphere on campus and promote environmental education. These efforts have contributed to the positive results in the "UI GreenMetric World University Rankings," and President Chen attributes this success to the collective efforts of all faculty, staff, and students. NUK will continue its endeavors in promoting environmental sustainability, education, and research.The "UI GreenMetric World University Rankings" is constructed based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, with evaluation categories encompassing "Setting and Infrastructure," "Energy and Climate Change," "Waste," "Water," "Transportation," and "Education and Research." The 2023 edition of this ranking was organized by Universitas Indonesia and was released last month on December 5th. A total of 1,183 universities from 84 countries participated in the competition, including 31 universities from Taiwan.The Office of General Affairs at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) took the lead in participating in this ranking. Mr. Shih-Heng Tung, the Dean of General Affairs, pointed out that NUK has been actively applying for the ranking since 2022, and the university's performance has improved consistently. Moving from 319th place in 2022 to 285th place in 2023, significant improvements were observed in all six evaluation categories. This indicates the continuous refinement of the university's environmental strategies and practices.For example, in the "Setting and Infrastructure" category, the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) in Taiwan is ranked 8th among participating schools. This recognition is attributed to the university's commitment to environmental sustainability from its inception, marked by the signing of the "Talloires Declaration (June 5, 2004)," making it the first green university in Taiwan. The university's campus, formerly agricultural fields and fishponds acquired through land requisition by the Kaohsiung City Government, spans 82.5 hectares. After a series of environmental restoration efforts, the campus now boasts a forest and vegetation coverage of 51.64%.Furthermore, within the NUK campus, there are ecological ponds, East Lake, ecological water channels, and natural watercourse. In addition, there are 10 pieces of public art scattered throughout the campus, including installations like "Le Zai Yiqi (Have fun together)." The university has also integrated the surrounding 300 hectares into a university community, promoting environmental education and management under the concept of the "lung of the community." This approach not only attracts people for recreation but also facilitates outdoor education.In the "Transportation" category, the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) stands out, ranking 10th among participating schools in Taiwan. This recognition is attributed to several measures, such as controlling motorcycle access to the campus. All motorcycles of faculty, staff, and students, except for delivery and official vehicles, are required to be parked in designated areas. Additionally, NUK has collaborated with the Kaohsiung CityGovernment and YouBike, implementing 10 bike-sharing stations across the campus. This initiative facilitates easy movement for faculty, staff, students, and the public. Moreover, the university manages vehicle numbers through a campus entrance fee for cars, and it has planned five locations for "shared taxi" pick-up points, encouraging the use of public transportation and reducing reliance on private vehicles.#SDG4 #SDG6 #SDG7 #SDG9 #SDG11 #SDG12 #SDG13 @Department of General Affairs &Research
EMBA Executive Director Li Ting-Lin Leads Startup Terrace Kaohsiung to Participate in SWITCH in Singapore to Expand Southeast Asian Market
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Text and photos provided: EMBA Center Executive Director and Associate Professor of the Department of Asia-Pacific Industrial and Business Management, Li Ting-Lin.】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-11-08 Startup Terrace Kaohsiung(亞灣新創園), The Ministry of Economic Affairs Small and Medium Enterprise Administration continued collaborating with the Singaporean entrepreneurial organization Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for the second year of the "Taiwan-Singapore Startup Exchange Program" in 2023. Since its inception, this program has facilitated at least 13 business collaborations, resulting in approximately 30 million New Taiwan Dollars in opportunities. Both parties recommended promising startups that utilize core technologies such as 5G, AI, and IoT, focusing on applications related to digital transformation, smart cities, smart manufacturing and logistics, innovative healthcare, and green technology. Through overseas training and exchanges, mentorship, and further engagement with Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, the program aims to lead Taiwanese startups in expanding into the Southeast Asian market. This year, in addition to jointly participating in the annual SWITCH event in Singapore with the National Development Council under the "Startup Island Taiwan" initiative, they also conducted on-site training in Singapore with their strategic partner, ACE. The program in Singapore included arranging demo pitches for Taiwanese startups and inviting local investors and corporate partners in Singapore to hear their fundraising presentations to achieve business opportunities or fund partnerships. Furthermore, they led the startups to engage with local startup development organizations and venture capitalists in Singapore, such as Genesis Alternative Ventures and A*STAR - Agency for Science. The program also included visits to the regional headquarters of multinational corporations like Microsoft Singapore and LaunchPad—key communities and organizations, including Enterprise Singapore ACE.SG, NUS Enterprise, BLOCK71, and others were part of the exchange and interaction. Currently, the team is still in Singapore for comprehensive training to integrate into the ASEAN ecosystem.This year's SWITCH exhibition was co-hosted by Professor Li Ting-Lin, the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung Program's co-project leader and NUK professor. She led a delegation of 8 startups, which included Taiwan Carbon Materials, JMEM Technology, Ness Wellness, Data Yoo Application, TAC Dynamics, iAMBITION, Crypto-Arsenal, and Raputa Inc. The team has expressed that they have been discussing fundraising and market entry with various local and international venture capital firms. They have also initiated potential business opportunities with companies like ContiTech, Singapore Polytech, and SMT Tech.Startup Terrace Kaohsiung will continue exploring business opportunities in the Southeast Asian market. They aim to facilitate Taiwanese startups in connecting with international resources and funding opportunities, thereby increasing the exposure of these startups on a global scale. They plan to establish regular bilateral exchange and ground services with Singapore to enhance both sides' business insights and resource matching. Their goal is to showcase the innovation and potential of Taiwanese startups actively.#SDG3 #SDG9 #SDG11 #SDG12 #SDG17
11.2.3 Public access to museums (Description and supporting information File1)
NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction and the Kaohsiung City Government's Water Resources Bureau jointly organized the "Self-reliant Disaster Preparedness Community Achievement Exchange".
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-10-13 On the 13th of October, the Kaohsiung City Government's Water Resources Bureau, in collaboration with NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction and the Taiwan Resilient Cities Development Association, jointly organized the "112th Annual Kaohsiung City Flood Disaster Self-Reliance Community Achievement Exchange Meeting." During this event, they recognized outstanding communities, cooperative businesses, and organizations for their contributions to flood disaster self-reliance.The event also featured a certification ceremony for disaster prevention personnel, emphasizing the importance of training individuals in disaster response and management. In addition, students from NUK participated in training programs. Upon completing their training, these students will be deployed to multiple communities, including Yong'an and Renwu, where they will actively engage in practical activities. Their role will involve raising awareness about disaster preparedness and helping build the community's capacity for self-rescue and mutual assistance.This initiative highlights the collaborative efforts between government agencies, educational institutions, and local communities to enhance disaster preparedness and response and empower residents to take an active role in self-help and mutual assistance during emergencies.The achievement exchange meeting took place at the National University of Kaohsiung. Director of the Water Resources Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Tsai Chang-Jhan, emphasized " communities " 's critical role in the disaster prevention system. Communities are the fundamental and most important part of this system. In addition to smaller-scale wind disasters, the increased frequency and scale of flooding due to global climate change have posed more significant challenges. Taiwan is no exception, and coping with disasters is becoming more complex.The dedication of communities is a significant source of encouragement for the public sector. Learning how to coexist with disasters is a trend in future disaster prevention systems. Through this achievement exchange meeting and the community gathering, the event aimed to express gratitude for the communities' years of dedication to safeguarding homes together, even in the face of adversity.Wu Min-hao, the Director of the Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction at NUK, highlighted that the university is actively involved in implementing the Ministry of Education's "Higher Education SPROUT Project USR-Hub Program" and aligning it with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote concepts related to "resilient cities" and "resilient disaster prevention." As part of these efforts, the university has introduced a course titled "Disaster Prevention Skills and Practices" to encourage students to study and engage in community-based practical work. The goal is to guide students in becoming active participants in self-reliant disaster prevention communities, thus fulfilling the university's social responsibility. NUK has trained nearly 50 students who are set to complete their training and gradually join various communities starting in October. These communities include Xin Gang Li in Yong'an District, Zhonghua Community in Renwu District, Baoshe Community in Daliao District, Linzai Bian Community in Chulai District, Dashu Xinjizhuang Community and Jiutang Community in Dashu District, Xiayantian Community and Qingfeng Community in Nanzih District, Taiye Community in Hunei District, and Dade Community in Qishan District. NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction has been assisting the Kaohsiung City Government in promoting self-reliant disaster prevention communities for an extended period, and they have guided more than 40 such communities.The Ministry of Economic Affairs Water Resources Agency initiated these self-reliant disaster prevention communities in 2010. They encompass areas in Taiwan prone to flooding. The idea is to engage residents in disaster prevention activities, raising their awareness of the crisis potential and encouraging them to participate in disaster prevention actions actively. The aim is to build the capacity for self-rescue and mutual aid among the community members. This approach strengthens community resilience and their ability to respond effectively to disasters.#SDG11 #SDG13
NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction and the Kaohsiung City Government's Water Resources Bureau jointly organized the "Self-reliant Disaster Preparedness Community Achievement Exchange".
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-10-13 On the 13th of October, the Kaohsiung City Government's Water Resources Bureau, in collaboration with NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction and the Taiwan Resilient Cities Development Association, jointly organized the "112th Annual Kaohsiung City Flood Disaster Self-Reliance Community Achievement Exchange Meeting." During this event, they recognized outstanding communities, cooperative businesses, and organizations for their contributions to flood disaster self-reliance.The event also featured a certification ceremony for disaster prevention personnel, emphasizing the importance of training individuals in disaster response and management. In addition, students from NUK participated in training programs. Upon completing their training, these students will be deployed to multiple communities, including Yong'an and Renwu, where they will actively engage in practical activities. Their role will involve raising awareness about disaster preparedness and helping build the community's capacity for self-rescue and mutual assistance.This initiative highlights the collaborative efforts between government agencies, educational institutions, and local communities to enhance disaster preparedness and response and empower residents to take an active role in self-help and mutual assistance during emergencies.The achievement exchange meeting took place at the National University of Kaohsiung. Director of the Water Resources Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Tsai Chang-Jhan, emphasized " communities " 's critical role in the disaster prevention system. Communities are the fundamental and most important part of this system. In addition to smaller-scale wind disasters, the increased frequency and scale of flooding due to global climate change have posed more significant challenges. Taiwan is no exception, and coping with disasters is becoming more complex.The dedication of communities is a significant source of encouragement for the public sector. Learning how to coexist with disasters is a trend in future disaster prevention systems. Through this achievement exchange meeting and the community gathering, the event aimed to express gratitude for the communities' years of dedication to safeguarding homes together, even in the face of adversity.Wu Min-hao, the Director of the Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction at NUK, highlighted that the university is actively involved in implementing the Ministry of Education's "Higher Education SPROUT Project USR-Hub Program" and aligning it with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote concepts related to "resilient cities" and "resilient disaster prevention." As part of these efforts, the university has introduced a course titled "Disaster Prevention Skills and Practices" to encourage students to study and engage in community-based practical work. The goal is to guide students in becoming active participants in self-reliant disaster prevention communities, thus fulfilling the university's social responsibility. NUK has trained nearly 50 students who are set to complete their training and gradually join various communities starting in October. These communities include Xin Gang Li in Yong'an District, Zhonghua Community in Renwu District, Baoshe Community in Daliao District, Linzai Bian Community in Chulai District, Dashu Xinjizhuang Community and Jiutang Community in Dashu District, Xiayantian Community and Qingfeng Community in Nanzih District, Taiye Community in Hunei District, and Dade Community in Qishan District. NUK's Science and Technology Center for Disaster Prevention and Reduction has been assisting the Kaohsiung City Government in promoting self-reliant disaster prevention communities for an extended period, and they have guided more than 40 such communities.The Ministry of Economic Affairs Water Resources Agency initiated these self-reliant disaster prevention communities in 2010. They encompass areas in Taiwan prone to flooding. The idea is to engage residents in disaster prevention activities, raising their awareness of the crisis potential and encouraging them to participate in disaster prevention actions actively. The aim is to build the capacity for self-rescue and mutual aid among the community members. This approach strengthens community resilience and their ability to respond effectively to disasters.#SDG11 #SDG13
2023 Asia Virtual Academy Conference Unites 8 Universities from 6 Countries to Address “Climate Resilience and Sustainable Societies”
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】On June 6, 2023, the National University of Kaohsiung(NUK) held the '2023 Asia Virtual Academy Conference', focusing on “Climate Resilience and Sustainable Societies.” The event was conducted in-person and online simultaneously, expanding its reach to more audiences. During the conference, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed with the Institute of Aeronautical Engineering from India and the University of the Ryukyus from Japan, fostering academic exchanges and establishing partnerships between the universities.Yueh-Tuan Chen, President of the NUK, along with Haranadh Prasad, Dean of the College of Engineering at the Institute of Aeronautical Engineering in India, and Ikue Kina, Vice President of the University of the Ryukyus in Japan, signed an MOU. This agreement aims to facilitate academic and cultural exchanges, share educational resources, and establish cross-border learning opportunities for students.As the host, Yueh-Tuan Chen welcomed the visiting scholars from partner institutions, noting that while the Covid-19 pandemic had once confined international borders, the NUK broke through the restrictions and launched the “Asia Virtual Academy.” These invitations to partner universities across various countries facilitated the sharing of knowledge, cultures, and achievements. For instance, the NUK has linked industry and society, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to fulfill its University Social Responsibility (USR) commitments.The NUK's Office of International Affairs organized this conference, with the host and Director of International Affairs, Wu Xinghao, highlighting the attraction of numerous partners through the establishment of the Asia Virtual Academy in 2021. The Asia Virtual Academy fulfill goals like "international exchange," "expanding students' global perspectives," and "respecting and understanding diverse cultures." Amid easing pandemic conditions, this year's conference integrates in-person and online elements. Partner universities' faculty and students can engage via platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, embodying borderless education and instant communication. Impressively, nearly 200 individuals attended the online session simultaneously.One of the speakers, Professor Qi-ren Chen from the Department of Architecture of the NUK, shared the actions and measures of the low-carbon community and culturally sustainable development jointly created by NUK and Kaohsiung City; the other speakers included Ikue Kina, the vice president of the University of the Ryukyus, Prof. Mary Joy B. Sande from Bicol University in the Philippines, Prof. Manisha Jagtap from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology in India, Prof. Helma Malini from Universitas Tanjungpura in Indonesia, Prof. Hoang Ha Anh from Nong Lam University in Vietnam conducted discussions on low-carbon communities, green buildings, green finance, and sustainable agriculture.#SDG4 #SDG11 #SDG13 #SDG17
2022 VDWC in Japan: Students of XR Micro-learning Program won the runner-up
【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】The convener of XR micro-learning program, and also as the chief of Architecture Department of NUK, Associate Professor Yi-Chao Chen guides students of micro-learning program to take part in VDWC every year. Surrounded by more than 50 groups of strong opponents from all over the world this year, only 9 groups were qualified for the shortlist, and the XR micro-learning students subsidized by The Sprout Project of NUK accounted for 3 groups. NUK won a group of runners-up in the final on November 17.VDWC was hosted by “Forum 8”, a great software company of Building Information Modeling. VDWC invited students from departments of architecture, civil engineering, and urban planning from various countries. After it chooses the problems that different cities encounter, participants must use their software building information modeling, virtual reality and other technologies to conduct analysis and simulation of facility functions, sustainable design and disaster prevention planning. This perfectly fits the spirit of SDGs 11–promoting inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements.“A city where humans and smart mobility coexist–Western Sydney Airport Terminal Neighborhood” is the theme of 2022 VDWC. The 24-hour Western Sydney Airport is expected to become Australia's largest passenger airport in the future. The country's government has launched the country's largest urban development project–Airtropolis in the surrounding open area.A large number of airport passengers, related employees, and hotel residents around the airport move within the region, forming an intricate and highly mobile city. The futuristic city designed with intelligent transportation, its advanced nature, uniqueness, and lifestyle changes brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic are the focus of this evaluation.“LAPUTA” was designed by Kuan-Yu Chu, Ching-Ya Tseng, Ting-Wen Yang, Tzu-Yi Yang and Wei-Hua Cheng from Architecture Department of NUK. The work designed a new type of transportation–Chubby in response to the traffic problems at Western Sydney Airport.Chubby is an indoor small-scale low-speed automatic driving system, and it can be combined into a large outdoor transport vehicle as the number of passengers increases. LAPUTA integrates passenger identification, real-time traffic dynamics and Metaverse technology to create a sustainable smart, safe, and smooth mobile city where humans and smart mobility coexist.“Accel World” was designed by Yu-Min Yang, Yu-Hsiang Huang, Wen-Te Huang and Cheng-Yu Lin from Architecture Department of NUK. Aside from the Transit Station to integrate all routes to the airport, they also developed a drone to scan the health condition of passengers and to give them road guidance and city information. With tubular corridors, pedestrians and vehicles can shuttle through the airport to quickly disperse crowds. The exterior of the building adopts cyberpunk design, which is quite eye-catching.Yu-Chia Su, Yi-Hsuan Li, Shih-Hung Li, Wei-Kai Huang and Min-En Tsai from Architecture Department of NUK thought on the theme of ocean currents, creating a 24-hour circulation ocean current system on the road, with the ocean of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia as the design concept, and build Western Sydney Airport into a vortex-shaped orbit, aerial track and suspension unit vehicle. This makes it easier for passengers to reach small site, and it also preserves the surrounding forest ecology. When a disaster strikes, it will be transformed into an ecological corridor for the escape of creatures, which is original and in line with the concept of ecological sustainability.The “XR Micro-learning Program” of XR SCHOOL and “Somatosensory Technology and Digital Innovation Program” of Architecture Department are directed by Associate Professor Yi-Chao Chen. Courses include 3D animation production, 3D modeling Unreal game design, Unity game design, XR script design and video implementation and other XR professional courses.Through basic theory and practice, students are encouraged to participate in project development and various competitions to broaden their international horizons. The XR micro-learning program is eligible for completion after completing 10 credits. Related courses and details:● Introduction and Setting of XR Micro-learning Program:https://ifschool.nuk.edu.tw/downloadfile.php?fid=52● Introduction and Setting of Somatosensory Technology and Digital Innovation Program:https://ifschool.nuk.edu.tw/downloadfile.php?fid=51#SDG4 #SDG11
