Cheng Shiu University joined hands with the USR planning team of universities across Taiwan to expand the “Industry–University Link x Cultural Sustainability” cross-school exchange SIG activity. Through speeches and planned case sharing and discussions, the University’s social responsibility was addressed with the aim of promoting cultural sustainability and local innovation, strengthening industry–university cooperation.

The opening of the event was hosted by President Jui-Chang Kung of Cheng Shiu University and Wei-Ming Chang, head of the Comprehensive Plan Business Group of the Ministry of Education’s USR Promotion Center. President Jui-Chang Kung indicated that university resources should be shared with the community to promote local development. The USR plan promoted by Cheng Shiu University is further integrated with cultivation plans, leading to successful outcomes; the concrete results of the cross-university exchange are visible across several remote rural areas.

Wei-Ming Chang also stated that the promotion of USR can foster local innovation; it encourages teachers and students from campus to integrate into local areas to connect with and help a wider network of people.

This event included several excellent speeches and cross-school experience sharing. Pei-Chun Ho, CEO of Town Cultural and Creative Company, took the topic “What kind of town you want to live in” to share culture, community, and local development practices. He explained how, after retiring from the army, he went to Zhushan in Nantou and witnessed how many old houses had been abandoned. The idea of “cultural preservation” came to his mind. He started his own business and built a B&B, borrowing more than NTD 10 million for startup costs. The initial monthly turnover was less than NTD 10,000, but he had to pay more than NTD 60,000 in interest. Growing a business was challenging, but he held to his ideals and continued to persevere. With 16 years of experience in Zhushan, step by step, his hard work showcases his achievements.

Several University USR program teams shared their outcomes of local practice, including National Huwei University of Science and Technology, Ming Chuan University, National Chi Nan University, and National Taichung University of Science and Technology. The teams shared the successful results of their USR program implementation.

Sorgan S. K. Tai, Director of Department of Agricultural Design at National Huwei University of Science and Technology explained that promoting organic agriculture and developing Yunlin smart agricultural technology helps illustrate how agricultural resources are sustainable.

Professor Hsin-Hung Chen, host of Cheng Shiu University’s “Create Zuodui, Recreate Xinpi & Jiadong” USR program discussed the budding USR program implemented initially in Xinpi Township, Pingtung County; the Ministry of Education confirms that the USR program has entered a deep cultivation phase this year. The scope has been further expanded to Jiadong Township. This SIG cross-school exchange event will inspire more innovative thinking to cultivate the regenerative power of Xinpi Township and Jiadong Township.

I-Cheng Li, program host of Cheng Shiu University’s “Misfortune Turns to Bliss-Talent Cultivation and Local Practice Plan for Aboriginal Cultural Asset Preservation” program, described the practice sites of the two Aboriginal Cultural Relics Museums in Taiwu Township and Laiyi Township. The sites are promoting the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal cultural assets, moving cultural preservation from static knowledge to dynamic practice to align with the spirit of “cultural sustainability” of the United Nations SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).