The 4th phase (2025-2027) of the Ministry of Education’s University Social Responsibility (USR) Practice Project is officially underway, and on August 12~13th USR Promotion Center organized the 2025 USR EXPO at the Taipei Expo Dome to present the work being done.
A total of five USR project teams from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) participated in the event. Led by NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang and Dr. Hsu-Yang Kung of the Center of Interdisciplinary Feature Development, the teams clearly demonstrated NPUST’s commitment to the local area and its capacity for social engagement across a diverse range of sustainable issues. These issues include: under-forest economies, eco-tourism, digital transformation of agriculture, preservation of indigenous culture, grassroots aerospace and science education, and intergenerational co-prosperity. By offering integrated solutions to meet the regional needs of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, NPUST is fulfilling its mission to practice social responsibility and implement sustainable development.
Featured Projects and Recognition
This year’s USR EXPO, themed “University Ties and Resilient Innovation,” featured a dynamic lineup of exhibition booths, USR TALK presentations, stage speeches, and corporate matchmaking. NPUST’s five participating teams, showcasing their achievements from the 3rd phase to the present, include:
- The “Satoyama Root Economy 2.0: Alliance Development for Under Forest Economies, Eco-tourism and Talent Cultivation for Agroforestry Carbon Sequestration,” is led by Dr. Mei-Hui Chen, a Professor in the Department of Forestry
- The “Digital Transformation and Promotion of the Tropical Organic Corridor along Highway 185 and Ecosystem Construction” is jointly headed up by NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang and Dr. Hsu-Yang Kung, Director of the Center of Interdisciplinary Feature Development.
- “Cultural Resilience and the Sustainable Economic Development of a Healthy Makatao Agricultural Industry” is led by Dr. Wen-Ling Shih, Vice President for Administrative Affairs.
- The “Southern Taiwan Dreams of Flying Park” project is directed by Dr. Hudson Hsu, Director of the Smart Mechatronics Bachelor Degree Program.
- The project for “Intergenerational Co-prosperity and Happy Companionship: Co-creating a Sustainable and Secure Home” is led by Dr. Hui-Fen Su, a Professor in the Department of Recreational Sport and Health Promotion.
Among these, the project “Satoyama Root Economy 2.0” project was selected for the USR TALK presentation. The team shared their innovative perspective on research and local practice in a talk entitled “A New Quantitative Perspective on Eco-tourism”. In their presentation they demonstrated how quantitative research methods can deepen the evaluation and application of eco-tourism. The “Southern Taiwan Dreams of Flying Park” project was also chosen from 27 competing teams to participate in the USR x ESG Demo Day. The team presented a seven-minute briefing on the main stage on the 12th to showcase its cross-disciplinary collaboration potential and seek funding and sustainable investment from corporations.
Cultivating Talent for a Sustainable Future
NPUST integrates the power of its USR projects directly into its curriculum, encouraging faculty and students to step out of the classroom and into the community. This process transforms their professional knowledge into concrete, feasible solutions. It also teaches them to listen to local voices, respond to community needs, and promote regional sustainability through cross-disciplinary cooperation. Through USR practice, students cultivate independent thinking skills and enhance their capacity for civic engagement, progressively becoming the diverse and socially responsible talent needed for the next generation.
Achieving remarkable results in its USR projects, NPUST secured approval and funding from the Ministry of Education for all five of its proposals in two consecutive phases. This outstanding success affirms the university’s deep commitment to local cultivation and innovative practice in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung regions.
The University Social Responsibility program is a vital initiative connecting academia with local communities and represents a long-term commitment to mutual prosperity and co-existence. NPUST is dedicated to continuing this journey, partnering with communities, industries, and all sectors of society, grounded in the foundation of talent cultivation. The university looks forward to using the USR EXPO platform to share its local achievements, deepen exchange with colleges nationwide and various sectors, and collectively build a more resilient and sustainable future.
