To showcase faculty and student efforts in USR and sustainability practices, Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) held the “Sustainable Infinite City” University Social Responsibility (USR) Forum and Exhibition in celebration of its 70th anniversary. The forum invited Wu Chun-Wei, Co-founder of Jiyu Studio; Wang Jung-Chun, Chief Career Education Officer at 104 Job Bank; and Chen Ho-Wen, Director of the Office of Sustainability at Tunghai University, to share their experiences on youth involvement in local revitalization, the importance of cultivating sustainable green talents, and CYCU faculty and students’ professional and passionate engagement in social practices. Through cross-sector exchanges, the event aimed to unite universities, industries, and society to jointly advance sustainable development.
Wu Tsung-Yuan, Vice President of CYCU, remarked that since 2009, universities have shouldered social responsibilities. In today’s fast-evolving AI era, the core value of education lies in social welfare and sustainability. He reflected on CYCU’s long-term commitment to USR, highlighting over 20 years of faculty and students applying professional knowledge in public service, turning education into action. CYCU has received numerous accolades in recent years, including the 2025 Vision Magazine USR Grand Award, multiple honors in the 2024 Taiwan Sustainable Action Awards (TSAA), and the Double-Lian Pear Social Enterprise receiving the SME ESG Award, demonstrating the university’s role in promoting regional prosperity and sustainable development.
Caption: Vice President Wu Tsung-Yuan emphasized the value of education in social welfare and sustainability, encouraging faculty and students to put knowledge into action.
The event also presented the “113th Academic Year USR Outstanding Teacher” awards to recognize faculty contributions to university social responsibility and showcase USR achievements across disciplines. Shih Chang-Fu, Lecturer of the Department of Commercial Design, integrated local needs to develop cultural and creative products and promote student entrepreneurship, fostering regional prosperity through cultural translation and industry revitalization. Yang Ching-Lin, Lecturer at the Center for Teacher Education, focused on holistic education and disadvantaged groups, enhancing the well-being of service recipients through guidance and teaching. Huang Ching-Hui, Lecturer of the Department of Interior Design, led students in community revitalization, cultivating talents with design skills and social responsibility.
Caption: USR Outstanding Teacher Awards were presented to honor faculty efforts and contributions in promoting social responsibility.
Kuan Chen-Hsuan, General Manager of United Online, noted that this was her sixth time attending the USR forum and personally witnessing CYCU’s deep cultivation of USR and holistic education. From early projects such as the Double-Lian Pear and Taoyuan Pizun, to recent initiatives like preserving the Taoyuan Dahai community’s air force base history, connecting sustainable communities and public welfare museums, assisting rural farmers in online marketing, and co-creating green building communities, faculty and students respond professionally to societal needs, demonstrating the tangible impact of education. She reminded that while AI may bring disruptions, it cannot replace real action and engagement, encouraging students to leverage CYCU resources to participate in society and contribute to the future.
Caption: United Online General Manager Kuan Chen-Hsuan witnessing CYCU’s USR and holistic education achievements.
On September 17, CYCU held the “Sustainable Infinite City” USR Forum featuring diverse content. Wu Chun-Wei, Co-founder of Jiyu Studio, shared her team’s experience in revitalizing Hsinchu’s old city, exploring urban space and local culture from multiple perspectives, creating the “Hsinchu City Guide” and publishing the local lifestyle magazine Gongwan Soup, linking cityscapes and public issues through themes and regions. She emphasized that only by re-engaging people in discussions about the city can real change occur, reconnecting individuals with the city through cultural carriers and making Hsinchu more engaging.
Caption: Wu Chun-Wei, Co-founder of Jiyu Studio, shares experiences of local revitalization in Hsinchu’s old city.
Wang Jung-Chun, Chief Career Education Officer of 104 Job Bank, highlighted that students participating in USR projects develop four core values: enhancing sustainability awareness, accumulating practical skills, fostering interdisciplinary integration, and building personal narratives, while achieving three key connections: with sustainability, professional knowledge, and career. These competencies are valuable assets for future employment.
Caption: Wang Jung-Chun emphasized that USR participation develops sustainability awareness and interdisciplinary skills, boosting employability.
Chen Ho-Wen, Director of the Office of Sustainability at Tunghai University, discussed sustainability through the dual axes of “mitigation” and “adaptation,” sharing strategies combining carbon reduction planning with resilient campus construction. From education, infrastructure, early warning systems, to community response capacity, these measures enhance campus resilience to climate impacts, ensure sustainable operations, and deepen contributions to SDGs, demonstrating concrete university action in social responsibility and sustainability practices.
Caption: Chen Ho-Wen shares sustainable practices in carbon reduction and resilient campus development.
The “Sustainable Infinite City: Future Skills × Local Enhancement” Exhibition was held concurrently from September 16–19 at CYCU Activity Center, 1st Floor, highlighting milestones of the university’s long-term USR efforts. Exhibits included disaster-prevention arks, community building, cultural creation, and international cooperation projects, presenting a timeline from service learning to sustainability practices. The exhibition showcased faculty and student contributions to local needs. A dedicated USR multimedia area invited participants to join the “Sustainability Pledge”, writing commitments to foster a green campus and collectively shaping the next decade of action. The Office of Sustainability at CYCU stated that recent years have focused on strengthening sustainable initiatives, including annual publication of sustainability reports covering university governance, talent cultivation, industry innovation, and social responsibility, aligned with international SDG indicators. The campus continues to implement energy-saving and renewable facilities, aiming for 20% renewable energy generation by 2025, while promoting green buildings and friendly spaces. CYCU also established the Net-Zero Transformation & Sustainability Center and pioneered an ESG evaluation mechanism to assist enterprises and communities in enhancing sustainability management. Cross-disciplinary courses and USR projects integrate community building, local revitalization, and disadvantaged support, turning knowledge into concrete service actions.
Caption: Faculty and students participate in the “Sustainability Pledge,” building a green campus for the next decade.
CYCU emphasizes that the value of education extends beyond knowledge transmission to nurturing socially responsible citizens. The university encourages every CYCU member to continue contributing to society and jointly advance campus and societal sustainability.
The USR Forum and Exhibition highlighted future skills and local enhancement, demonstrating CYCU’s commitment to holistic education and sustainability in practice.