In August 2025, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) officially reorganized its " Office of Strategic Planning " into the " Office of Sustainability and Strategic Development " As a first-level administrative unit within the university's formal structure, this office integrates university-wide sustainable strategy planning with internal and external resources to realize the vision of sustainable governance. Its core responsibilities include:
- Formulating sustainable development goals (SDGs), strategies, and action plans.
- Strengthening the integration of sustainable development into teaching, research, service, and governance.
- Coordinating the establishment of multiple sustainability task forces to execute specific action plans.
- Facilitating internal coordination between administrative and academic units to promote sustainable campus governance, while externally participating in social sustainability initiatives to expand the university’s impact.
Innovative Governance
With administrative innovation at its core, NCKU fosters an equitable and competitive professional environment by implementing equal pay for equal work, refining recognition mechanisms, and offering diverse training programs. Simultaneously, the university cultivates future-ready talents through the integration of life education and cross-disciplinary industry-academic collaborations.
In terms of digital management, NCKU comprehensively promotes smart campus initiatives, utilizing real-time infrastructure monitoring and big data analytics to optimize resource efficiency and drive energy conservation and carbon reduction in its buildings. To ensure robust sustainable governance, the Office of Research and Development oversees all sustainability operations. Since 2023, the university has regularly published third-party-verified sustainability reports. The 2024 report specifically focuses on five key pillars—Innovative Governance, Humanistic Values, Health and Well-being, Net-Zero Emissions, and Disaster Resilience—fully demonstrating NCKU’s transparency and unwavering commitment to its long-term sustainable vision.
Humanistic Values
NCKU is deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and equality. Through dedicated support systems such as the Gender Equity Education Committee and specialized centers for Indigenous and new-immigrant students, the university ensures the rights and well-being of all faculty, staff, and students. The long-standing "Star Project" provides comprehensive financial and academic assistance to disadvantaged students, while the integration of "Friendly Maps" and accessibility information helps construct a truly barrier-free campus environment.
In terms of quality education, NCKU actively advances digital learning and open courses —such as MOOCs and SPOCs—while integrating bilingual instruction, life education, and sustainability-focused credit courses. Students are encouraged to engage in extracurricular activities centered on the green economy and biodiversity to practice lifelong learning. Furthermore, NCKU actively fulfills its social responsibility and resource sharing mission. Through University Social Responsibility (USR) projects and outreach programs, the university fosters strong local community ties and opens its libraries, museums, and other campus resources to the public, working hand-in-hand with society to achieve a vision of sustainable cities and collective social well-being.
Health and Well-being
With the goal of creating a "Happy Campus," NCKU has established a comprehensive support network that includes mental health leaves, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and a smoke-free, active environment. The university also integrates eco-friendly farming and low-carbon dining requirements into vendor contracts to ensure campus health and sustainability. Furthermore, leveraging its medical expertise and affiliated hospital, NCKU has built cross-disciplinary care platforms to provide holistic medical concern for everyone from children to the elderly. Simultaneously, through the promotion of food-agriculture education and sustainable farming methods, NCKU shapes a resilient agricultural ecosystem, extending its impact to the overall well-being of society.Net-Zero Emissions
NCKU is fully committed to the 2050 Net-Zero target. On the administrative front, the university has established high standards for green procurement, maintaining a rate of over 95%, while implementing Smart Energy Management Systems (EMS) and ensuring that 100% of new buildings meet Green Building standards. Through third-party certification, NCKU ensures the transparency of its greenhouse gas inventories.In terms of research, NCKU utilizes UAVs and NASA models to precisely calculate campus carbon sinks and has developed microalgae carbon sequestration and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technologies at its Annan Campus. The 2024 launch of the "Carbon Neutrality Technology and Talent Cultivation Base" further deepens R&D in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). By combining ISO-standard decarbonization training with international forums, NCKU successfully transforms its scientific expertise into tangible social impact, driving both the campus and industry toward a net-zero transition.
Disaster Resilience
NCKU has established a comprehensive disaster prevention network through digital governance, deep-rooted education, and outreach services. In terms of campus management, the university introduced a digital disaster management system and a "Campus Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan," integrating AED training and various emergency drills into daily routines to enhance the climate resilience of its infrastructure.Regarding talent cultivation, NCKU offers international master’s programs, such as "International Master's Program in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies" and "International Master Program on Natural Hazards Mitigation and Management (iNHMM)," alongside professional certificate programs to develop experts capable of addressing global climate challenges. Furthermore, NCKU actively promotes social outreach; through its Disaster Prevention Research Center, the university conducts firefighter training and collaborates with local communities, transforming academic expertise into a protective force for society to co-build safe and resilient cities.
Global Views USR University Social Responsibility Award
NCKU received a total of eight awards at the Global Views USR University Social Responsibility Awards, the highest number among universities in Taiwan. The university has also actively participated in ESG collaboration networks, contributing its academic expertise to foster mutually beneficial partnerships among academia, industry, and research sectors.[Grand Prize] Sustainable Curriculum Category
- Co-creation: NCKU's "Exploring Tainan" Building a New Knowledge University Together
- Whales in Tainan 20: Sustainable Action for Marine Wildlife Conservation Education in Taiwan and the Western Pacific
- 2023-2024 National Cheng Kung University Sustainability Report
- Universal Tech-Pandemic Prevention: AI-Powered Smart Dengue Fever Detection and Early Warning System
- Co-creating Dementia-Friendly Communities: NCKU's "Good Neighbors" in Pingtung County
- Successful Remote Sensing for Carbon Management: AI Net-Zero Initiatives in Chiayi
- Industry-Academia Mega-Alliance: Replacing Carbon with Hydrogen to Help Taiwan Achieve Carbon Neutrality
- Companion 2026: Intersubjectivity, Mutual Benefit, and Cultural Heritage Re-innovation