National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is dedicated to sustainable development, actively addressing key social and global issues. Since 2016, NCKU has integrated the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its institutional development plan. In August 2024, NCKU established the “Sustainable Development Promotion Committee,” along with multiple specialized committees and task forces, to implement various sustainability initiatives and develop into a forward-thinking sustainable university.
NCKU Sustainable Governance Structure
NCKU Sustainable Governance Structure
Sustainable Development Promotion Committee
- NCKU established a sustainability coordination mechanism in August 2024, led by the Vice President as convener and the Vice President for Research and Development as executive director, with five committee members to integrate administrative resources and advance university-wide sustainability in education, social responsibility, and international impact.
- In January 2025, the governance structure was further strengthened by adding six members from relevant units and establishing a dedicated “Greenhouse Gas Inventory” task force. The university also formed task-oriented working groups covering environmental sustainability, campus resilience, health and well-being, and education and social responsibility, supported by regular meetings and project management mechanisms to ensure steady progress. Overall, NCKU has developed a sustainability governance system spanning decision-making, advisory, and implementation levels, demonstrating its sustained commitment to campus sustainability.
Office of Sustainability and Strategic Development
- To strengthen university-wide sustainability governance and strategic integration, NCKU has established the Office of Sustainable Strategy Development, OSSD as a first-level unit dedicated to advancing sustainability initiatives. Its predecessor was the “Strategy Development and Integration Office,” which was restructured and officially elevated in August 2025. The OSSD is responsible for coordinating university-level sustainability strategy planning, integrating internal and external resources, and supporting the sustainability transformation of institutional decision-making.
- Led by the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) and Deputy CSO, the office oversees strategic planning, data analysis, social responsibility initiatives, and cross-unit project integration. Its core responsibilities include formulating sustainability development blueprints, supporting decision-making through data-driven analysis, shaping the university’s sustainability brand and external communications, and managing and integrating university-wide sustainability projects. Through these efforts, it promotes cross-unit collaboration and resource integration, continuously advances Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, and serves as a central unit supporting NCKU’s progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050 and its long-term sustainable development.
- Regulations for the Establishment of the Office of Sustainability and Strategic Development
Dedicated Sustainability Team & Achievements
The dedicated sustainability team ensures that university operations align with sustainable development goals, fully implementing sustainability strategies and practices.
- Responsible for executing sustainability initiatives, including interdisciplinary sustainability projects, SDG-related research collaborations, sustainability strategy analysis, and progress reporting. The office also publishes sustainability-related publications to promote sustainable development within the university.
- Since 2023, NCKU has published an annual sustainability report. In 2024, NCKU conducted its first stakeholder and materiality assessment, verified by a third-party audit to ensure credibility and transparency. In 2025, referencing the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, the office identified the potential impacts of climate change on campus operations and assets. A comprehensive assessment of risks and opportunities was conducted to ensure the integrity and specificity of strategic analyses. (2024-2025 Sustainability Report)
- Oversees the campus development plan and sustainable campus design, assisting the General Affairs Office in reviewing campus construction projects.
- Through special projects and task forces, the committee promotes energy conservation, carbon reduction, ecological greening, and cultural heritage preservation, fostering a green and sustainable campus. (2025 Achievements)
- NCKU is committed to University Social Responsibility (USR) by engaging with local communities, establishing the Social Innovation USR Resource Center (NCKU USR HUB), strengthening social ties, and promoting regional development and cultural heritage.
- The Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, the Exploring Tainan Office, and other units have implemented multiple USR projects to promote local co-prosperity and social innovation,, including “U-R Lohas East Asia”, “From Clinic to Community: Life Hospitality for ‘Bubble Dragon’ Patients”, “Collaborative Badlands 3.0”, “Touching Sin-káng-tang: Co-creating a Healing Eco-Art Village”, “The Blessing and Sorrow of Zengwun River”, “Co-creating Dementia-Friendly Communities: NCKU as a "Good Neighbor" in Pingtung County”, to promote regional prosperity and social innovation. (2025 Achievements)