Edited by Elysee Chung.  Image credit to NCKU News Center.
  
The Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE) has long dedicated itself to advancing corporate sustainability in Taiwan. Building on 17 years of experience with the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards (TCSA), TAISE hosted the inaugural Taiwan University Sustainability Awards (TUSA) this year. The awards ceremony was held on November 20 at the Grand Hotel in Taipei, where National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) received three prestigious accolades: the "Top 10 Sustainable Universities in Taiwan Award," the "Social Inclusion Leadership Award," and the "Outstanding University Sustainability Professional Award" presented to President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒). These honors recognize NCKU's exceptional commitment to advancing sustainability.
 

President Meng-Ru Shen received the Outstanding University Sustainability Professional Award, presented by Deputy Premier Li-Chiun Cheng (鄭麗君).

 
President Shen, along with Professor Chien-Ming Lee (李堅明) and Professor Jo-Chu Chang (張嘉修), received the Outstanding University Sustainability Professional Award, presented by Deputy Premier Li-Chiun Cheng (鄭麗君). Professor Lee, often referred to as the "Father of Carbon Trading in Taiwan," is a prominent figure in environmental economics, while Professor Chang serves as the Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Tunghai University.
 
President Shen expressed gratitude to the organizers, emphasizing that the "Outstanding University Sustainability Professional Award" honor belongs to the collective efforts of NCKU's faculty, students, and the broader community. He reaffirmed the university's commitment to addressing global challenges in energy, the environment, and population by embedding the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its strategic blueprint. NCKU has incorporated the UN's "2030 SDGs" into its development plan, among which five aspects are emphasized: humanity values, health and well-being, net-zero carbon emission, smart environmental control, and resilient disaster prevention. The university actively integrates sustainability into education, research, and community service while fostering collaborations with alumni, industries, and various sectors to drive interdisciplinary projects. Notable initiatives include Taiwan's first carbon-negative demonstration factory, highlighting NCKU's goal of leading academia and industries toward a sustainable future.
 

NCKU was honored with the "Top 10 Sustainable Universities in Taiwan Award" for its comprehensive sustainability performance. Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen (陳玉女)  accepted the award on behalf of the university, with the trophy presented by former Minister of Education Wen-Chung Pan (潘文忠).

 
In recognition of its comprehensive sustainability performance, NCKU was named one of the "Top 10 Sustainable Universities in Taiwan," with Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen (陳玉女) accepting the award from former Minister of Education Wen-Chung Pan (潘文忠). NCKU's vision emphasizes teaching, research, and social responsibility, positioning the university as a vital force for societal progress. Beyond knowledge dissemination and talent cultivation, NCKU is dedicated to addressing societal challenges and providing robust academic support for national policies. This year, the university established Taiwan's first "Carbon-Neutral New Generation Talent Development Base" among higher education institutions. The base exemplifies NCKU's commitment to Taiwan's 2050 net-zero transformation and climate governance.
 
In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Impact Rankings, NCKU ranked 25th globally and first in Taiwan for the fifth consecutive year. Looking ahead, NCKU plans to further integrate resources and foster interdisciplinary projects to drive sustainable development. The university aspires to be a beacon of sustainability, inspiring cities and nations and serving as a proud example of academic excellence and social impact.
 

TAISE hosted the inaugural Taiwan Sustainable University Awards in 2024, with the award ceremony held on November 20 at the Grand Hotel in Taipei.

 
Furthermore, NCKU's College of Medicine received the "Social Inclusion Leadership Award" for its innovative Acute Stroke Referral System. Led by Associate Clinical Professor Pi-Shan Sung (宋碧姍), the system significantly enhances acute stroke care across Taiwan.
 
NCKU Hospital's Stroke Center and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at NCKU collaborated to develop an innovative acute stroke referral platform, the EVT Transfer System (EVTTS), in early 2020. Accessible on both computers and mobile devices, the platform streamlines the referral process, requiring just 2–3 minutes to input clinical information. It facilitates direct communication between referring and receiving hospitals, reducing delays and logistical challenges. EVTTS was officially launched in October 2021 in collaboration with hospitals in the Tainan-Chiayi region. By 2024, 19 hospitals in this region had joined, forming a multi-directional, rapid, and secure regional stroke referral network.
 
Compared to traditional systems, EVTTS improved referral efficiency by 77 minutes, increased thrombectomy rates by 26%, shortened thrombectomy time by 128 minutes, and enhanced the excellent prognosis rate by 36.6%. Additionally, it reduced the length of hospital stays and costs for referred patients. From this finding, the innovative EVTTS significantly enhances regional treatment integration and promotes acute stroke referral care quality.
 
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2024-11-28