Aiming to deepen its roots in Art Education, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) on March 2nd (2026). The comprehensive cross-disciplinary alliance combines NPUST’s ecological expertise with Weiwuying’s artistic energy and will focus on campus ecological education, sustainable talent cultivation, and the promotion of artistic experiences. By sharing resources, the two institutions aim to build a sustainable and inclusive arts ecosystem and inject green innovation into cultural industries.
NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang stated that the university emphasizes both theory and practice, striving to cultivate leaders who possess scientific expertise, humanistic literacy, and problem-solving skills. He noted that when professional technology is combined with deep artistic aesthetics, it further stimulates innovative energy. This collaboration with Weiwuying will extend the learning environment to a national-level performing arts center, creating opportunities for academic departments to integrate study with practical application. Students can use their expertise in environmental monitoring and sustainable R&D to assist in theater transformation while also expanding their horizons through cultural participation.
The agreement, which was signed by NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang and Weiwuying General and Artistic Director Chien Wen-pin, will promote collaboration driven by three major themes: Campus Art Co-education, Green Theater Practice, and Ecological Sensitivity Training. Regarding green sustainability, NPUST will leverage its strengths in environmental science to assist Weiwuying in quantifying the carbon footprint of venue activities. Following ISO 14067 international standards, they will conduct greenhouse gas inventories for designated exhibitions or events and establish scientific carbon reduction benchmarks for the arts industry.
The NPUST Institute of Wildlife Conservation will also assist Weiwuying in ecological capacity building, using professional guided tours to enhance the ecological sensitivity of arts practitioners and build a solid knowledge base for future environmental education training. Regarding arts promotion, the Center for General Education will coordinate the effort to introduce artistic resources to the campus with the goal of enhancing arts appreciation. Faculty and students will also visit Weiwuying to take part in cross-disciplinary dialogue.
After the signing, the Weiwuying team visited the NPUST Department of Wood Science and Design for an exchange seminar. They engaged in deep discussions with faculty and students on topics such as wooden structure design for theater spaces, sustainable material applications, and eco-friendly strategies for performance venues. The discussions sparked ideas about diverse possibilities for cross-disciplinary cooperation on art and wood design projects and for future collaboration in green theater construction and innovative design.
Weiwuying General and Artistic Director Chien Wen-pin remarked that “NPUST has long been deeply involved in environmental and ecological education and sustainable values, and is dedicated to cultivating professionals with a vision of environmental care. Performing arts and the natural environment are inherently symbiotic, nourishing one another.” Through this MOU, both parties will develop cross-domain and interdisciplinary resources with the aim creating a practical link between art and sustainability, and working towards a new vision for green arts based on a spirit of aesthetics and coexistence with the nature.
