The SDG University of Taiwan: National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) Initiative for SDGs

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The National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) is the newest national university established in the millennium in Taiwan. In accordance with the government's industrial development policy, NUK is a leading university to assist the government to upgrade and transform traditional industries and train professionals in many fields including ICT, IoT, FinTech, AI technologies, Law and governance and management.

NUK Sustainability Report
2018 The SDG University of Taiwan (NUK)

The Features of NUK

Becoming a Catalyst of the Policy Development
By utilizing our solid academic research as a strong backbone, we look forward to becoming an academic think tank that helps our government in making good policy for social and economic development and serves as the key academic force to assist the growth of enterprises.
Excellence in Teaching
In a free academic research environment, we aim to utilize our distinguished teaching programs to cultivate talents with broad vision and profound knowledge in both science and humanities.
Innovative Teaching Methods and Keeping up with International Standards
The Departments of NUK emphasize on innovatively combining the theory and practice to empower student capability of problem-finding-and-solving. We promote holistic education, design integrated programs, advance the quality of teaching, and step forward to become a world-class university.
Strategic Alliances with Other Universities and Institutions for Academic collaboration, and Resources Sharing
Academic collaboration, and Resources Sharing NUK enthusiastically upgrade our academic research, conduct virtual academic interchange with other universities in Taiwan or abroad, such as arranging students and faculty exchange programs to increase the opportunities for learning and collaboration. As an university named after the great city of Taiwan, we have formed a strategic alliance with other universities in Kaohsiung City to integrate and share all the resources.
Stimulating Research Capacity and Promoting the Collaborations between Industries and Academia
NUK encourages the stimulation of teaching and research staff and students’ capacity of research and development to fulfill the industries’ goal of putting theories into practice. We have signed strategic alliance agreements with different institutions, such as China Steel Cooperation, Metal Industries Research and Development Centre, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and National Applied Research Laboratories. In addition, we also cooperate with the coordinators of different enterprises in our Advanced Business Incubation Center, and deepen the collaborations with Southern Taiwan Science Park and surrounding industries in the processing and industrial zones.
Developing a College Town with Humanities, Ecology, Leisure, and Health
Based on the goal of building “a green NUK with environmental sustainability”, NUK was Taiwan’s first green university which signed the Talloires Declaration and was elected as one of the best example of "Green University" in Taiwan by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2009. We were also awarded as one of the “Promote Environmental Protection Meritorious Schools” by the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan in 2010, and were appointed as the “Wetlands of National Importance” by the Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior in 2011. NUK aims to promote the construction of a college town, and build a green campus without walls. By increasing the quality of university community and emphasizing on knowledge culture, arts, and leisure, we hope to deepen the development of the greater Kaohsiung area.

Our Commitment of SDG

As a University established in the millennium, we strive to embed sustainability as one of the University's core values. Thus, NUK is committed to embedding sustainability across all aspects of teaching, learning and research, and therefore will support and promote the SDGs through our research, education and operations. We agree to achieve the SDGs by ensuring our campus and programs are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

Description/Achievement of Initiative

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I.Organization and operations:
To integrate SDGs into NUK organization and operation, further to influence the campus culture and neighborhood area.

Integrating the SDGs into the medium- to long-range campus development plan.
Promoting campus culture of sustainability at NUK under the operation of Sustainable Development Committee of NUK, and gradually realizing the idea of green university.
Collaborating with the Yunus Social Business Center established in December, 2017 at NUK, to help the students reflecting on their roles and responsibility as an individual in the world and thereby becoming a responsible global citizen.

II.Research:
To assist the society to be aware of the local issues of SDGs and to develop solutions accordingly.

Encouraging the faculty to engage in research topics of SDGs.
Cooperating with enterprises and related organizations to organize conference regarding to sustainable development issues.

III.Education:
To organize workshops with non-profit organizations, in order to increase the faculty’s knowledge of SDGs issues, and further to cultivate citizens with the competency for sustainable development.

Encouraging the faculty to offer training courses of SDGs or integrate the SDGs issues into the content of existing courses.
Implementing the 360° global citizen cultivation program, which encourages students to collaborate with their counterparts at sister schools and engage in discussion about SDGs issues, becoming a citizen with the competency of sustainable development.
Implementing the full-range assistance program for underprivileged students to ensure equal opportunities from admission to graduation, realizing the idea of fair justice.

IV.Sustainability in Practice:
To connect with the external organizations, facilitate communication and actions across different disciplines.

Supporting the faculty to integrate their course into sustainable development issues of local community, also lead the students to engage in actual practice in the community.
Acting as a role of leaders and integrators to match communities, non-profit organizations and social enterprises to collaborate in SDGs practice.