SDG17
多元夥伴關係
"2023 AVA Symposium" – Focused on Sustainable Economy and Entrepreneurship with Educational Partners from 6 Countries and 8 Schools.
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Text and photos provided: Office of International Affairs, Hsu Yuan-Ju; Editing: Public Affairs Section.】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-12-26National University of Kaohsiung recently held the "2023 Asia Virtual Academy International Symposium" on the 13th and 14th of this month. The central theme of the event was "Sustainable Economy and Entrepreneurship." The symposium coincided in person and online, with scholars from Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Japan, and other countries presenting their research findings. The event provided a platform for exchanging cultural characteristics and expanding international perspectives, fostering diverse communication. The Office of International Affairs of NUK organized the symposium and marked the event's second edition this year. It was jointly hosted with Bicol University, the sister school in the Philippines, specifically by the College of Business, Economics, and Management.Wu Hsing-Hao, the Dean of International Affairs, stated that in 2021, the establishment of the Asia Virtual Academy (AVA) aimed to invite like-minded domestic and international higher education partners. This initiative included collaboration with domestic institutions such as National Chung Hsing University and National Pingtung University, as well as sister schools in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Japan, and other countries. The goal was to promote the ideals of "international exchange," "expand students' international perspectives," and "respect and understand diverse cultures." Virtual symposiums or lectures were instrumental in overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.Wu Hsing-Hao mentioned that as the COVID-19 situation in various countries gradually improved, the symposium held in June marked the first simultaneous physical and online forum. Scholars and students from sister schools worldwide actively participated, generating enthusiastic responses. This year's upcoming event, the second edition, will focus on sustainable economy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Participants will share insights on a low-carbon society, green architecture, and green economy.Wu Hsing-Hao emphasized that since the inception of AVA, four series of lectures and international symposiums have been conducted. One thousand two hundred fifty individuals have actively participated and obtained certificates, while the content has been viewed 36,410 times on the YouTube channel. The symposiums continue to deepen collaboration among the six countries and eight partner schools in the Asia Virtual Academy and provide participants with a rich academic exchange platform. Furthermore, they contribute to raising the visibility of Taiwan's education on the international stage.The Director of the EMBA Center at NUK, Weng Ming-Chang, and the team led by Dimson Rivero, Dean of the CBEM at Bicol University in the Philippines, shared insights on various topics. These included innovation and entrepreneurship in both Taiwan and the Philippines, the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung, guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business sustainability plans in extreme climates, fair competition laws, social enterprises, and experiences in the economic and trade environment in the Philippines—the presentation aimed at providing a platform for sharing and comparing experiences in these areas.The Office of International Affairs also arranged a visit for Dimson Rivero's team to the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung(亞灣新創園) and the Great Harbor Bridge in The Pier-2 Art Center, allowing them to witness the urban development in Kaohsiung. Dimson expressed that the collaborative model between industry, government, and academia in the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung is an excellent reference for the business and academic sectors in the Philippines. He indicated a willingness to explore further opportunities for deepening exchanges in innovation and startup industries between Taiwan and the Philippines.#SDG8 #SDG12 #SDG17 @Office of International 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
President Yueh-Tuan Chen of NUK Led A Delegation To Japan And Shared Experiences In Gender Equity Education At The Okinawa Prefectural Government.
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-11-03 President Yueh-Tuan Chen of the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) was recently invited to lead a delegation on a visit to Japan. During the visit, they shared experiences in incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into campus governance, promoting gender equity education, analyzing the legal framework for promoting gender equity in Taiwan and Japan, and discussing practical implementation. Additionally, they met with representatives from the University of the Ryukyus to discuss academic exchanges, further deepening the relationship between the institutions.The Office of International Affairs coordinated this visit, with the Director of Office of International Affairs of NUK, Xing-hao Wu, accompanying the delegation from October 27th to 31st. Vice Governor 池田竹州 of Okinawa personally welcomed President Yueh-Tuan Chen and delegations, expressing warm regards. He emphasized that the Gender Equality Symposium organized by the Okinawa Prefectural Government is a chance to learn from Taiwan's experiences and achievements and to make Okinawa a model for the rest of Japan.During the symposium, Yueh-Tuan Chen emphasized that campuses are a crucial field for gender equity education. Taiwan has been implementing the "Gender Equity Education Act" for many years, which not only underscores its importance but also regulates its promotion at all levels of education, ensuring its integration into the curriculum. The results of these efforts are reflected in the "Global Gender Inequality Index (GII)," where Taiwan's GII value is low and consistently ranks among the top Asian countries, which means Taiwan has less gender inequality. However, there is still room for improvement.Yueh-Tuan Chen highlighted the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) as an example, where NUK has made SDGs the core of institutional governance, linking them with industry and society, and also organized various gender equity education activities. For instance, in September, a course titled "The Goal of University Education," where experts taught students and faculty how to express emotions and develop interpersonal skills effectively. Additionally, NUK has invited lawyers to share insights on gender equality issues and trends in their "Excellence Lecture" series.The panel of speakers and discussants at the event included 藏根美智子, a member of the Okinawa Prefectural Government's Board of Education, Xing-hao Wu, the Director of Office of International Affairs of NUK, and 杉岡風希, a Japanese student currently studying. The Director of Education at the Prefectural Government, 半嶺滿, and the Vice President of the University of the Ryukyus, 喜納育江, were also present throughout the event.藏根美智子 mentioned that she had visited many elementary schools, middle schools, and universities in Taiwan. She observed the Taiwanese government's dedicated efforts in planning teaching materials and curricula for students. This has become an important reference for educational policies in Okinawa Prefecture Government and even in Japan as a whole.Xing-hao Wu stated that promoting gender equality education helps to eliminate discrimination and further promotes the construction of a more equal, diverse, and inclusive society. He also analyzed the follow-up to the recent "Me Too Movement" in Taiwan, including immediate legal amendments and the current situation and prospects of women in entrepreneurship. While 杉岡風希 shared her own experiences of learning and living at the National University of Kaohsiung, as well as the inspiration she gained from these experiences.In addition, Yueh-Tuan Chen and the delegation also paid a visit to the University of the Ryukyus, where they were received by the university's president, 西田睦. Both parties exchanged views on academic exchanges, faculty and student visits, and reached a consensus on deepening their relationship. In June of this year (2023), the National University of Kaohsiung hosted the "2023 Asia Virtual Academy International Symposium" with a focus on "Climate Resilience and Sustainable Society." The Vice President of the University of the Ryukyus, 喜納育江, led a delegation to participate in presenting research findings and signed an MOU on behalf of the university.#SDG5 #SDG17
"The Goal of University Education" Course: Faculty Guiding Freshmen to Envision a Bright Future.
【Translator：Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-10-02 Last Tuesday, September 26th, the Center for Teaching and Learning Development at the National University of Kaohsiung offered a course titled "The Goal of University Education" with the theme "Reserving a Bright Future." They invited six administrative leaders from the university to deliver TED-style talks, focusing on learning to help new students understand the diverse teaching and administrative resources available on campus and explore the university's vision for the next four years. The aim was to practice conveying love to touch the hearts of others. At the beginning of this event, the Center for Teaching and Learning Development opened up the freshmen's imaginations about their future university life. They did this by showing a short video and creating a word cloud from the learning sheets they had filled out during their first week. This approach allowed them to explore their impressions of NUK and their expectations for their future learning experiences.The event featured six administrative leaders who guided students on "how to learn" from the perspectives of diverse learning and campus experiences. They were as follows: The Dean of Academic Affairs, Chen Yi-Min, led students in "learning." He shared with students the diverse and enriching learning patterns available at NUK. The Dean of Student Affairs, Tsai Xing-Zhi, led students in "playing." He shared the highlights of extracurricular learning through engaging in student clubs. The Dean of International Affairs, Wu Xing-Hao, led students in "flying." He guided students to familiarize themselves with NUK's international resources and related information. The Dean of Research and Development, Wu Ming-Hao, led students in "connections" with industry. He talked about students' career development through industry-academia partnerships. The Dean of General Affairs, Tong Shi-Heng, led students in "reading." He guided freshmen on a tour of NUK, which is a green campus. Finally, the Director of the General Education Center led students in "crossing," He discussed students' service practices and social learning from the interdisciplinary learning perspective. They also shared this information with students through virtual reality in the metaverse.Vice President Yuan Ching began her speech by saying that life on NUK's campus is quite vibrant, waiting for new students to explore. In addition to studies, activities such as joining clubs, industry internships, building social networks, engaging in international exchanges, participating in community service, and taking interdisciplinary courses are all worth investing time and effort into during their four years at the university.The Center for Teaching and Learning Development is promoting the "The Goal of University Education" course to give students a glimpse of their future at the university during their first semester. It aims to guide students in self-exploration and help them sketch a blueprint for their future university learning journey.#SDG4 #SDG17
Legislator Shih-Fang Liu to Share Political Experience and Analyze Taiwan's Economic Policies at NUK Lecture.
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-09-26 Legislator Shih-Fang Liu was invited to speak on the first "Distinguished Lecture" of the 112-1 semester at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK). With the topic "Examining Taiwan's Future through Economic Policies," she dissected the current state of vital industries in Taiwan and their future trends. The Vice President of NUK , Zong-Fang Wu, presented a certificate of appreciation, expressing gratitude for enlightening the students and faculty.Shih-Fang Liu emphasized that Taiwan continues to face political suppression and military pressure from the Chinese government. Despite this, Taiwan remains committed to developing its democratic system, striving for international participation and support, and maintaining friendly relations with many countries. On the economic front, the government has implemented various industry policies in recent years to sustain our country's industrial competitiveness.Shih-Fang Liu pointed out that the government initiated the “5+2” Industrial Innovation Plan to accelerate Taiwan’s industrial transformation and upgrade in 2016. This plan encompasses seven major sectors, including smart machinery, IoT (the Asia Silicon Valley Plan), biotechnology and medicine, green energy technology, national defense, and circular economy, etc. These innovations serve as the core driving force for the next-generation industrial growth in Taiwan, aiming to achieve visions such as smart island, nuclear-free homeland, energy efficiency with carbon reduction, etc.In response to the drastic global economic changes and accelerated supply chain restructuring caused by the US-China trade war and the Covid-19 pandemic, President Ing-wen Tsai declared in her inaugural speech on May 20, 2020, to promote six core strategic industries. Building upon the foundation of the “5+2” Industrial Innovation Plan, these forward-looking industry deployments aim to position Taiwan at the forefront of global supply chain restructuring in the post-pandemic era, making it a crucial player in the future global economy.Shih-Fang Liu holds a master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Oklahoma State University in the United States. She currently serves as a legislator in the 10th session of the Legislative Yuan and concurrently holds the position of Chairperson of the Football Committee at the Kaohsiung Municipal Athletic Federation. With extensive experience in both local and central government positions, Shih-Fang Liu has accumulated a wealth of experience in government administration. Since entering the Legislative Yuan, she has actively participated in discussions on various significant issues and the legislative process, dedicating herself to improving various aspects of Taiwanese society.#SDG3 #SDG8 #SDG9 #SDG17
Legislator Shih-Fang Liu to Share Political Experience and Analyze Taiwan's Economic Policies at NUK Lecture.
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-09-26 Legislator Shih-Fang Liu was invited to speak on the first "Distinguished Lecture" of the 112-1 semester at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK). With the topic "Examining Taiwan's Future through Economic Policies," she dissected the current state of vital industries in Taiwan and their future trends. The Vice President of NUK , Zong-Fang Wu, presented a certificate of appreciation, expressing gratitude for enlightening the students and faculty.Shih-Fang Liu emphasized that Taiwan continues to face political suppression and military pressure from the Chinese government. Despite this, Taiwan remains committed to developing its democratic system, striving for international participation and support, and maintaining friendly relations with many countries. On the economic front, the government has implemented various industry policies in recent years to sustain our country's industrial competitiveness.Shih-Fang Liu pointed out that the government initiated the “5+2” Industrial Innovation Plan to accelerate Taiwan’s industrial transformation and upgrade in 2016. This plan encompasses seven major sectors, including smart machinery, IoT (the Asia Silicon Valley Plan), biotechnology and medicine, green energy technology, national defense, and circular economy, etc. These innovations serve as the core driving force for the next-generation industrial growth in Taiwan, aiming to achieve visions such as smart island, nuclear-free homeland, energy efficiency with carbon reduction, etc.In response to the drastic global economic changes and accelerated supply chain restructuring caused by the US-China trade war and the Covid-19 pandemic, President Ing-wen Tsai declared in her inaugural speech on May 20, 2020, to promote six core strategic industries. Building upon the foundation of the “5+2” Industrial Innovation Plan, these forward-looking industry deployments aim to position Taiwan at the forefront of global supply chain restructuring in the post-pandemic era, making it a crucial player in the future global economy.Shih-Fang Liu holds a master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Oklahoma State University in the United States. She currently serves as a legislator in the 10th session of the Legislative Yuan and concurrently holds the position of Chairperson of the Football Committee at the Kaohsiung Municipal Athletic Federation. With extensive experience in both local and central government positions, Shih-Fang Liu has accumulated a wealth of experience in government administration. Since entering the Legislative Yuan, she has actively participated in discussions on various significant issues and the legislative process, dedicating herself to improving various aspects of Taiwanese society.#SDG3 #SDG8 #SDG9 #SDG17
NUK held an opening ceremony for the Indigenous Students Resources Center to promote Indigenous culture and foster a sense of belonging.
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-09-19 On the 18th, the National University of Kaohsiung(NUK) held the opening ceremony for the "Indigenous Students Resources Center." Beyond increasing support and counseling for Indigenous students, it will serve as a hub for faculty and students to convene. The center will also promote various activities to guide people to understand Indigenous peoples and foster respect for diverse cultures.NUK‘s President Yueh-Tuan Chen attended the ceremony and joined the students in a joyful dance performance, demonstrating her appreciation and support. She shared that she has collaborated with professors Tsung-Fang Wu and Chih-Hung Wu for nearly a decade in leading the Ministry of Education's "Digit Companions for Learning" project, and the dedication of the team has been recognized by tribal elders. She emphasized that given the opportunity and proper education, Indigenous children can excel just like anyone else.Yueh-Tuan Chen highlighted that in 2017, NUK established the "Indigenous Students Resources Center." The number of Indigenous students has since grown from 51 to 117. With the growing number of students, the university utilized the summer break to renovate and expand the space, creating a sense of "home," providing support for academic learning and encouraging students to make the most of it.In the future, the center will actively respond to policies from the Ministry of Education and the Council of Indigenous Peoples, to guide people to understand Indigenous peoples. It will integrate related topics into curriculum and teaching, guiding school faculty and students to understand and respect Indigenous peoples."Since its establishment, the Indigenous Students Resources Center has been dedicated to Indigenous education, culture, arts, activities, and talent development. This includes expanding the " Masalu Indigenous Day" during the university's anniversary in March 2023, inviting students, faculty, and the public to learn about Indigenous culture, and fostering mutual respect. In June, in collaboration with Shu-Te University, both universities' Indigenous students formed a visiting delegation to the Philippines to observe local efforts in cultural preservation and concurrently promote Taiwan's Indigenous characteristics.NUK is committed to supporting the employment prospects of Indigenous students and consistently arranges counseling sessions and training courses. For instance, Lawa (Huang Yu-shan), a Tayal graduate from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was admitted to the "Fourth Grade Civil Engineering" last year (2022). Additionally, Hwai-kuan Hsieh, a Paiwan Master's student in the Department of Financial and Economic Law, passed the lawyer's examination in 2021. In May of this year, the university invited Senior Executive Officer Wen-pin Weng from the Ministry of Examination to analyze the key points and subjects of the exams, guiding students to pursue careers in civil service.#SDG4 #SDG10 #SDG17
NUK's sister school, Meio University from Okinawa, visited "Xiaoyao Garden" to exchange cultural and architectural ideas with NUK.
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-09-18 On the 13th of September, 2023, Xing-Hao Wu, Dean of International Affairs at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), extended an invitation to Professor Misato Shimizu and her team from Meio University in Okinawa, Japan. The purpose of their visit was to facilitate an exchange of ideas on language, architecture, cultural characteristics, and heritage. During their visit, the group had the opportunity to explore the renowned historical building "Xiaoyao Garden" through a guided tour led by architect Kuang-Hao Lin. Professor Shimizu and her students were deeply impressed by the painstaking attention to detail in the restoration process. They also acknowledged the city of Kaohsiung's commitment to cultural heritage conservation. Additionally, they witnessed the achievements of the National University of Kaohsiung in fostering connections between society and industry. Xing-Hao Wu, Dean of International Affairs at NUK, began the event by delivering a welcome speech in Japanese, extending a warm welcome to Professor Misato Shimizu and her visiting delegation. He highlighted the frequent interactions between the two universities since becoming sister schools and expressed confidence in deeper academic collaborations, student and faculty exchanges, and more in the future. During the event, students and faculty members from both universities shared insights into their unique architectural and cultural heritage. For example, students from Meio University showcased Okinawa's distinctive architectural vocabulary and regional dialect in Mandarin Chinese, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange and understanding."Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles too." The Office of International Affairs specially organized a restoration project for Xiaoyao Garden, with architect Kuang-Hao Lin leading Professor Misato Shimizu and her students on a guided tour.#SDG4 #SDG17
NUK's sister school, Meio University from Okinawa, visited "Xiaoyao Garden" to exchange cultural and architectural ideas with NUK.
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-09-18 On the 13th of September, 2023, Xing-Hao Wu, Dean of International Affairs at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), extended an invitation to Professor Misato Shimizu and her team from Meio University in Okinawa, Japan. The purpose of their visit was to facilitate an exchange of ideas on language, architecture, cultural characteristics, and heritage. During their visit, the group had the opportunity to explore the renowned historical building "Xiaoyao Garden" through a guided tour led by architect Kuang-Hao Lin. Professor Shimizu and her students were deeply impressed by the painstaking attention to detail in the restoration process. They also acknowledged the city of Kaohsiung's commitment to cultural heritage conservation. Additionally, they witnessed the achievements of the National University of Kaohsiung in fostering connections between society and industry. Xing-Hao Wu, Dean of International Affairs at NUK, began the event by delivering a welcome speech in Japanese, extending a warm welcome to Professor Misato Shimizu and her visiting delegation. He highlighted the frequent interactions between the two universities since becoming sister schools and expressed confidence in deeper academic collaborations, student and faculty exchanges, and more in the future. During the event, students and faculty members from both universities shared insights into their unique architectural and cultural heritage. For example, students from Meio University showcased Okinawa's distinctive architectural vocabulary and regional dialect in Mandarin Chinese, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange and understanding."Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles too." The Office of International Affairs specially organized a restoration project for Xiaoyao Garden, with architect Kuang-Hao Lin leading Professor Misato Shimizu and her students on a guided tour.#SDG4 #SDG17
The National University of Kaohsiung hosted the "2023 Kaohsiung Taiwan-Japan University Football International Friendship Tournament."
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-08-29 On August 29, 2023, the National University of Kaohsiung hosted the "2023 Kaohsiung Taiwan-Japan University Football International Friendship Tournament." The event featured strong teams from I-Shou University, Shu-Te University, and Nihon Kogakuin College. The participating teams engaged in six matches for three days, contributing not only to improving domestic teams' skills but also fostering university exchanges and city diplomacy.The Taiwan-Japan University Football Friendship Tournament opened at the "Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium." The opening ceremony was attended by Qin-Rong Lin, Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung City; Ryuichi Kurosu, Head of the Nihon Kogakuin College delegation; Yueh-Tuan Chen, President of the National University of Kaohsiung; Shyh-Fang Liu, Members of the Legislative Yuan and Head of the Football Committee of Kaohsiung Municipal Athletics Federation; Cheng-Tsung Shen, Director General of the Southern Taiwan Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hong-Mou Wu, Chairman of Chunghwa Post Co., Ltd.; Ming-Chou Yang, Chairman of Taiwan Sugar Corporation; Shu-Hsia Lee, Deputy General Manager of the ASE Technology Holding, Co., Ltd.; Yao-Yuan You, Honorary Chairman of Baozhugou Culture and Arts Development Association; and Kun-Yi Xie, the Chief of Lantian Village in Nanzih District, for the ceremonial kick-off.Shyh-Fang Liu, Members of the Legislative Yuan and Head of the Football Committee of Kaohsiung Municipal Athletics Federation, said she shares the same philosophy as President Yueh-Tuan Chen. She mentioned their collaborative efforts to cultivate future soccer stars for Taiwan and strive to compete among the world's top teams, especially accompanying the growth of many players present along the way. She encouraged these "young and courageous players" and thanked everyone for their contributions to the Taiwan-Japan soccer friendship tournament, urging them to make the most of this opportunity to hone their skills and contribute to good national diplomacy.As the host, President Yueh-Tuan Chen expressed her warm welcome and gratitude. She mentioned that the National University of Kaohsiung is named after the city of Kaohsiung and carries the mission to fulfill the city's expectations and bring honor to it. Therefore, in line with the university's goals of "connecting with industries, connecting with society" and in response to the "National Plan to Promote the Cultivation of Football Talents," they have been actively working to establish a soccer division and team within the newly created Department of Athletic Performance. They are also in the process of setting up FIFA-certified artificial turf soccer fields, aiming to build a comprehensive fourth-level (university) pipeline for talent cultivation and to connect with the "Soccer Industrial Park."Yueh-Tuan Chen emphasized that in addition to gradually enhancing the hardware facilities, improving student players' practical skills and experiences is equally important. She highlighted that participating in actual matches provides the best training. With solid support from the Kaohsiung City Government and the team of legislator Shyh-Fang Liu, they invited the sister city of Kaohsiung, Hachioji City, in Japan. Led by former Mayor Ryuichi Kurosu, the delegation from Nihon Kogakuin College's soccer team and students visited. They engaged in friendly matches with the National University of Kaohsiung, I-Shou University, and Shu-Te University, taking turns to showcase their skills.Yueh-Tuan Chen further pointed out that Kaohsiung City and Hachioji City in Tokyo, Japan, have had long-term exchanges since the establishment of sister cities on November 1, 2006. During her time as the Director-General of the Legal Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, she had the opportunity to engage in legal exchanges and was left with a deep impression. Therefore, she hopes that through this friendship tournament, students from both countries can exchange soccer skills and cultural insights, learning from each other's strengths and fostering mutual understanding.The University Football Team was ranked in the "Open Section" list of the University Football Association (UFA) Boys' Division. Shu-Te University was the third runner-up in this year's challenge group, both traditional powerhouses. On the other hand, the football team of the National University of Kaohsiung has also performed remarkably well. They successfully won the championship in the UFA men's third division, earning them a promotion to the second division. Moreover, the team recently received funding from Taiwan's China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to jointly establish the "Kaohsiung University Guoguang Team." With a flawless record in the "2023 Taiwan Football League Division 2," they have successfully advanced to the regular season. In early September, they will face other teams in the competition.The "2023 Kaohsiung Taiwan-Japan University Football International Friendship Tournament" is organized by the National University of Kaohsiung, with guidance from Kaohsiung City Government and Kaohsiung City Council. Co-organizers include I-Shou University, Shu-Te University, Nihon Kogakuin College, the Sports Development Bureau, and the Football Committee of Kaohsiung Municipal Athletics Federation. The event is sponsored by the Southern Taiwan Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chunghwa Post Co., Ltd., Taiwan Sugar Corporation, ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd., Garden Villa Hotel, Great City Life Bus, Fitness Factory, Pamma Coffee, Baozhugou Culture and Arts Development Association, Kaohsiung Sunny Bank Women's Football, and the Office of Lantian Village in Nanzih District.#SDG3 #SDG17
