SDGs永續行動網
SDG6
淨水及衛生
"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
The Goal of University Education - Invite Kara from Step30 international ministries to Share Her Experience in Helping African Children and Encourage Freshmen to Engage in Social Service.
【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】2023-10-24 The Center for Teaching and Learning Development at the National University of Kaohsiung recently invited Kara, the "Shoes for Life" project promoter, to share her and her husband Yu-Jen Yang's experience in promoting the collection of shoes for Africa. This project aims to improve the quality of life for residents and reduce the suffering caused by diseases transmitted by jiggers. NUK wants to inspire students to embrace the concepts of social engagement and enthusiastic service through this sharing.President Yueh-Tuan Chen of the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) commends Yu-Jen Yang and Kara for their selfless dedication to social engagement, which aligns with the university's commitment to realizing higher education's values and social responsibilities. By facilitating the sharing of experiences from professionals in various fields, this initiative encourages students to contemplate and practice what they have learned.The lecture event is one of the modules planned by the Center for Teaching and Learning Development as part of the "The Goal of University Education" course. It is primarily designed for first-year students to explore and understand the differences in lifestyles across different countries and regions. Furthermore, it aims to provide a more concrete understanding of the practical cases related to "SDGs" (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) such as Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).Yu-Jen Yang is Taiwanese, while Kara is from Canada. The two met at a church and eventually got married. Kara's father was a missionary and often shared with her his experiences and observations from missionary work in Africa, particularly in countries like Kenya. He highlighted the economic struggles of many citizens who couldn't afford shoes, resulting in prolonged barefoot walking. This, in turn, led to infestations and erosion from sand flea bites, causing painful ulcers on their feet and even claiming the lives of children.Motivated by this, the couple initiated the "Step 30: Shoes for Life" campaign in 2014, collecting tens of thousands of second-hand shoes from the Taiwanese public and sending them to Africa. In doing so, they made efficient use of resources and small but meaningful changes to the destinies of African children.Kara mentioned that the team started by organizing old shoes and managing the warehouse, now gradually working their way up to have multiple shipments of containers, delivering shoes to the hands of African children. This process spurred the couple to ponder, "What more can we do?" Thus, in collaboration with church partners, they embarked on journeys with their entire family to various locations. In addition to continuing the "Shoes for Life" project, they began initiatives in Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These efforts included community healthcare, school construction, and establishing community workshops in collaboration with local tribal elders.#SDG1 #SDG3 #SDG6
