[News Release] On the 22nd of this month, during the Ministry of Education's departmental meeting, special recognition was given to universities and collaborative partners that made significant contributions to post-disaster reconstruction following Typhoon Danas and the heavy rainfall on July 28th. Cheng Shiu University was honored for its exceptional efforts in Houbi District, Tainan City, where it demonstrated high levels of action and professionalism. The University led a team of experts to assist in repairing damaged homes, achieving remarkable results. The award was presented by Deputy Minister Wan-Chien Chang Liao of the Ministry of Education, with Vice President Yen-Yi Lee representing the University at the ceremony.

     This year, Typhoon Danas and the July 28 heavy rainfall severely impacted the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan regions, causing significant damage to the roofs of many homes. In response, the Executive Yuan established the “Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan Post-Disaster Recovery Command Center” on July 30 to coordinate resources from various ministries and local governments. Cheng Shiu University promptly responded to the government’s call and actively joined the post-disaster repair efforts in Houbi District, Tainan, showcasing its quick action and strong social responsibility.

    Through its Construction Science & Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University took charge of the support mission and formed a professional team in collaboration with external contractors. The team assisted throughout the entire process, including mediation, measurement, estimation, contract signing, and construction procedures. This demonstrated not only high efficiency and professional execution but also a deep sense of humanitarian concern. As of October 22, 2024, Cheng Shiu University has successfully completed eight disaster repair projects in Houbi District, Tainan City, with all projects completed smoothly. This work provided substantial support to the affected residents in rebuilding their homes, making a real difference in their recovery efforts.

     Director Hsin-Yi Wang of the Department of Civil Engineering highlighted that initially, residents were skeptical about the repair quotations. However, with the presence of the Ministry of Education and the district office as witnesses, the successful signing of the first repair contract helped build trust among residents. The confidence of the community grew as a result, and subsequent projects proceeded more smoothly. She further emphasized, “The willingness of our alumni to come from various places to support this effort is a testament to the expertise and emotional foundation that Cheng Shiu University’s Department of Civil Engineering has built over 60 years. This bond allowed us to complete eight repair projects in the shortest time possible, truly demonstrating our social responsibility.”

     Dr. Yu-Hsien Ho shared that the Ministry of Education hoped to match professional teams with construction backgrounds for post-disaster assistance; however, initially, no contractors were willing to take on the project. We immediately contacted alumni who run construction companies in other areas, and they came to help from Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and even Changhua. Everyone was motivated by a sense of loyalty to their alma mater and society; they did not hesitate to get involved.

     During the awards ceremony, Deputy Minister Chang Liao, Wan-Chien of the Ministry of Education, also affirmed that the strength of this cross-disciplinary support demonstrated the value of educational institutions in the face of major disasters. Education not only cultivates professional talent, but also puts social care into practice, making education the warmest and most solid support for post-disaster reconstruction.

    President Jui-Chang Kung stated that education is not only about classroom learning, but also the practice of social responsibility. Cheng Shiu University has long promoted service learning and social participation courses. This time, when the country faced a major disaster, being able to turn professional knowledge into action is a shared honor and responsibility of both the faculty and students. President Jui-Chang Kung hopes that in the future, the University will continue to uphold the core spirit of “Professionalism × Care,” deepen the social impact of vocational and technical education, and inject hope and strength into local communities and the nation through concrete actions.