SDG3
NCKU & SUSS Partner to Create Innovative Super-Aged Solutions: Cross-Disciplinary Talent Practice Locally
By Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), NCKU
Facing the rapid approach of a global super-aged society, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) partnered with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to host the fourth "Impact Startup Challenge in Gerontology" summer intensive course from June 29 to July 4. This edition brought together 25 students from NCKU, 25 students from SUSS, and 3 students returning to Taiwan during their study abroad in Europe. Forming transnational, cross-cultural, and cross-disciplinary teams, they ventured deep into Tainan communities and local enterprises partnered with NCKU USR. Through local practice, demand exploration, and innovation/entrepreneurship methodologies, they jointly developed innovative solutions responding to the needs of a super-aged society.
This course was co-offered by the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies and the Cross College Elite Program. The teaching team included Prof. Li-Chuan Lin from the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, Prof. Yu-Yu Chang from the Institute of International Management, Assistant Prof. Shih-Feng Chiu from the Cross College Elite Program, and Associate Prof. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS. The course also integrated NCKU's achievements in promoting senior health promotion over many years. Prof. Li-Chuan Lin stated that this year, special arrangements were made for NCKU senior sports volunteers to accompany students into communities, helping students get closer to the daily lives of elders and fostering intergenerational exchanges. In addition, 3 students studying in Europe returned to Taiwan during their summer break to participate in the course, learning alongside partners from different countries and bringing more diverse international perspectives to the class.
Associate Prof. Cheng Kian Tan of SUSS, who has come to Taiwan to teach for four consecutive years, introduced the thinking and diagrammatic application of the Javelin Board. He emphasized starting from real-world problems through building hypotheses, rapid validation, and continuous iterations, guiding students to develop minimum viable products (MVPs). Within a limited timeframe, students built user-demand-centered innovative solutions while cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and problem-solving capabilities.
During the course, students visited local enterprises in Tainan to learn how different industries address new demands in an aging society. Vice General Manager Chih-Cheng Ko of Yijin Bedding shared how the enterprise transforms water caltrop shells into highly conductive biochar to develop diverse green products, demonstrating innovative applications of the circular economy. Associate Director Pu-Luen Chen of Chi Mei Frozen Food introduced the R&D process for senior-friendly foods, sharing how the enterprise develops food products tailored to senior demographics through market insights, product innovation, and user needs analysis. Beyond corporate visits, students also conducted field trips to Baixue Community in Tainan and Changsheng Village Community, a long-term NCKU USR partner. In Baixue Community, students learned about local culture and community life characteristics through exchanges with residents and tasting nigari tofu pudding. In Changsheng Village, they experienced the LINE@ "Changsheng Smart Butler Health Management System," senior health promotion activities, and war drum lessons, exchanging innovative ideas with community elders as important references for subsequent proposal revisions.
Students also shared their learning takeaways after participating in the course. Student Huang from the NCKU Department of Architecture expressed that through interviews and interactions, he gained a deeper understanding of senior citizens' lifestyles and reconsidered how to address real needs through design. Faith, an information systems student from SUSS, noted that within just a few days, the course allowed her to learn innovation and entrepreneurship methods while building precious friendships through transnational collaboration, experiencing the value of working together across different cultural backgrounds to solve problems.
The final group competition of the course was conducted through pitch presentations to compete for recognition from the judges. Through simulated competition, students showcased their communication and presentation abilities to quickly develop products and clearly present them after a week of fieldwork and demand analysis. NCKU stated that in the future, it will continue to deepen cooperation with international partners, combining USR sites with cross-disciplinary teaching to allow students to learn in real settings and grow in cross-cultural collaboration, continuously cultivating cross-disciplinary talents with international vision, innovative capability, and a spirit of social practice to jointly respond to new challenges brought by a super-aged society.
Facing the rapid approach of a global super-aged society, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) partnered with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to host the fourth "Impact Startup Challenge in Gerontology" summer intensive course from June 29 to July 4. This edition brought together 25 students from NCKU, 25 students from SUSS, and 3 students returning to Taiwan during their study abroad in Europe. Forming transnational, cross-cultural, and cross-disciplinary teams, they ventured deep into Tainan communities and local enterprises partnered with NCKU USR. Through local practice, demand exploration, and innovation/entrepreneurship methodologies, they jointly developed innovative solutions responding to the needs of a super-aged society.
This course was co-offered by the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies and the Cross College Elite Program. The teaching team included Prof. Li-Chuan Lin from the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, Prof. Yu-Yu Chang from the Institute of International Management, Assistant Prof. Shih-Feng Chiu from the Cross College Elite Program, and Associate Prof. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS. The course also integrated NCKU's achievements in promoting senior health promotion over many years. Prof. Li-Chuan Lin stated that this year, special arrangements were made for NCKU senior sports volunteers to accompany students into communities, helping students get closer to the daily lives of elders and fostering intergenerational exchanges. In addition, 3 students studying in Europe returned to Taiwan during their summer break to participate in the course, learning alongside partners from different countries and bringing more diverse international perspectives to the class.
Associate Prof. Cheng Kian Tan of SUSS, who has come to Taiwan to teach for four consecutive years, introduced the thinking and diagrammatic application of the Javelin Board. He emphasized starting from real-world problems through building hypotheses, rapid validation, and continuous iterations, guiding students to develop minimum viable products (MVPs). Within a limited timeframe, students built user-demand-centered innovative solutions while cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and problem-solving capabilities.
During the course, students visited local enterprises in Tainan to learn how different industries address new demands in an aging society. Vice General Manager Chih-Cheng Ko of Yijin Bedding shared how the enterprise transforms water caltrop shells into highly conductive biochar to develop diverse green products, demonstrating innovative applications of the circular economy. Associate Director Pu-Luen Chen of Chi Mei Frozen Food introduced the R&D process for senior-friendly foods, sharing how the enterprise develops food products tailored to senior demographics through market insights, product innovation, and user needs analysis. Beyond corporate visits, students also conducted field trips to Baixue Community in Tainan and Changsheng Village Community, a long-term NCKU USR partner. In Baixue Community, students learned about local culture and community life characteristics through exchanges with residents and tasting nigari tofu pudding. In Changsheng Village, they experienced the LINE@ "Changsheng Smart Butler Health Management System," senior health promotion activities, and war drum lessons, exchanging innovative ideas with community elders as important references for subsequent proposal revisions.
Students also shared their learning takeaways after participating in the course. Student Huang from the NCKU Department of Architecture expressed that through interviews and interactions, he gained a deeper understanding of senior citizens' lifestyles and reconsidered how to address real needs through design. Faith, an information systems student from SUSS, noted that within just a few days, the course allowed her to learn innovation and entrepreneurship methods while building precious friendships through transnational collaboration, experiencing the value of working together across different cultural backgrounds to solve problems.
The final group competition of the course was conducted through pitch presentations to compete for recognition from the judges. Through simulated competition, students showcased their communication and presentation abilities to quickly develop products and clearly present them after a week of fieldwork and demand analysis. NCKU stated that in the future, it will continue to deepen cooperation with international partners, combining USR sites with cross-disciplinary teaching to allow students to learn in real settings and grow in cross-cultural collaboration, continuously cultivating cross-disciplinary talents with international vision, innovative capability, and a spirit of social practice to jointly respond to new challenges brought by a super-aged society.
The fourth "Impact Startup Challenge in Gerontology" summer intensive course was held from June 29 to July 4.
Students from both universities were mixed into groups and engaged in lively discussions.
Associate Prof. Cheng Kian Tan from Singapore University of Social Sciences came to Taiwan to teach.
Changsheng Village hosted visits from international students for four consecutive years.
