SDG11
Transnational Summer Intensive Course on Technology and Humanities: NCKU and SUSS Collaborate to "Senior Innovation"
As the 112th academic year draws to a close, the 113th academic year at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is set to begin with a unique and borderless learning experience. Following the successful completion of courses and exchanges between NCKU and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in 112, the two institutions are collaborating again to offer a six-day intensive English course on "Transnational Co-creation: Exploring and Innovating Solutions for Senior Needs" during the summer. This course has attracted 25 students from Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia, who will join 20 NCKU students to study in teams. They will discuss issues from cross-disciplinary perspectives, translating observed elderly needs into technological solutions to develop comprehensive innovative solutions and explore the endless possibilities of the silver economy. The course will include group competitions through practical "Pitch" presentations, training students in problem-solving, integrating innovation, practical implementation, and communication skills.
The course is jointly offered by the Cross College Elite Program and the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies at NCKU. The teaching staff includes NCKU Professors Li-Chuan Lin, Yu-Yu Chang, and Assistant Professor Shih-Feng Chiu, along with Dr. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS. They are connecting with resources from the USR Accompanying 2026 Project Team, Innovation Headquarters, and the Center for Sports Science and Healthy Aging at NCKU. Industry experts, including General Manager Zhong from Legend Innovation, Deputy General Manager Lin from Great Fitness Industrial, Manager Zhuo from Footdisc, and Founder Wu from Tacky Woman, have been invited to provide professional topics centered around innovation. Their success stories add significant value to the course and offer students clear entrepreneurial directions.
The course begins with field observations, including visits to the long-established Renai and Changsheng neighborhoods managed by the NCKU USR Accompanying 2026 Project Team. Students will participate in activities such as harvesting vegetables, singing, and drum performances with the elderly. They will also conduct group interviews to understand the elderly's life experiences. Besides interacting with the elderly, the course includes a visit to Jiangong Elementary School in Cigu District, Tainan, to interact with students and understand their views on their grandparents. Principal Huang Yuwen and Cofishland co-founder Lin have arranged a rich local art village tour. Additionally, students will visit Countess bedding industry in Tainan, where General Manager Ke will demonstrate digital innovation solutions and share business proposal strategies. In the intensive course, students will use innovative thinking tools to transform observed elderly issues into innovative proposal ideas, integrating their expertise and cultural backgrounds to develop cross-disciplinary innovative solutions.
Professor Li-Chuan Lin stated that the field visits and expert lectures expose students to various entrepreneurial possibilities. The USR project offers students the opportunity to learn how to combine social responsibility with entrepreneurial development, encouraging them to utilize campus resources to develop necessary entrepreneurial skills and prepare for their future careers. Dr. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS also mentioned that this course allows students from diverse cultural backgrounds to gain deeper insights into the potential of the elderly and inspires creative thinking.
Students responded positively to the course. NCKU student Hou expressed, "Interacting with Singaporean students made me aware of cultural differences and learn different ways of thinking through cross-disciplinary interactions, which provided diverse creativity and dialogues." Emily from Singapore happily shared, "The most impressive thing was the vitality and learning spirit of the community elders, which I admire. I will be more patient in listening to my elders' thoughts at home."
On June 29, nine student teams will publicly present their entrepreneurial ideas on elderly-related issues developed during the course. Experts from various fields, including startups, care, and venture capital, will serve as judges, providing professional and practical perspectives to help students understand the diverse challenges faced by innovative proposals in real-world applications.
This intensive course marks a new development in cross-disciplinary and transnational cooperation between NCKU and SUSS. Future collaborations will continue with SUSS to exchange and share outcomes. Through course collaboration, students will benefit from different countries' and cultures' perspectives and experiences, fostering a global vision and cross-cultural communication skills. These intensive and practical cross-national courses linked to university social responsibility will continue to be developed, cultivating students' practical abilities and innovative thinking, and promoting cooperation among academia, industry, and society to advance societal progress and address real-world problems.
The course is jointly offered by the Cross College Elite Program and the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies at NCKU. The teaching staff includes NCKU Professors Li-Chuan Lin, Yu-Yu Chang, and Assistant Professor Shih-Feng Chiu, along with Dr. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS. They are connecting with resources from the USR Accompanying 2026 Project Team, Innovation Headquarters, and the Center for Sports Science and Healthy Aging at NCKU. Industry experts, including General Manager Zhong from Legend Innovation, Deputy General Manager Lin from Great Fitness Industrial, Manager Zhuo from Footdisc, and Founder Wu from Tacky Woman, have been invited to provide professional topics centered around innovation. Their success stories add significant value to the course and offer students clear entrepreneurial directions.
The course begins with field observations, including visits to the long-established Renai and Changsheng neighborhoods managed by the NCKU USR Accompanying 2026 Project Team. Students will participate in activities such as harvesting vegetables, singing, and drum performances with the elderly. They will also conduct group interviews to understand the elderly's life experiences. Besides interacting with the elderly, the course includes a visit to Jiangong Elementary School in Cigu District, Tainan, to interact with students and understand their views on their grandparents. Principal Huang Yuwen and Cofishland co-founder Lin have arranged a rich local art village tour. Additionally, students will visit Countess bedding industry in Tainan, where General Manager Ke will demonstrate digital innovation solutions and share business proposal strategies. In the intensive course, students will use innovative thinking tools to transform observed elderly issues into innovative proposal ideas, integrating their expertise and cultural backgrounds to develop cross-disciplinary innovative solutions.
Professor Li-Chuan Lin stated that the field visits and expert lectures expose students to various entrepreneurial possibilities. The USR project offers students the opportunity to learn how to combine social responsibility with entrepreneurial development, encouraging them to utilize campus resources to develop necessary entrepreneurial skills and prepare for their future careers. Dr. Cheng Kian Tan from SUSS also mentioned that this course allows students from diverse cultural backgrounds to gain deeper insights into the potential of the elderly and inspires creative thinking.
Students responded positively to the course. NCKU student Hou expressed, "Interacting with Singaporean students made me aware of cultural differences and learn different ways of thinking through cross-disciplinary interactions, which provided diverse creativity and dialogues." Emily from Singapore happily shared, "The most impressive thing was the vitality and learning spirit of the community elders, which I admire. I will be more patient in listening to my elders' thoughts at home."
On June 29, nine student teams will publicly present their entrepreneurial ideas on elderly-related issues developed during the course. Experts from various fields, including startups, care, and venture capital, will serve as judges, providing professional and practical perspectives to help students understand the diverse challenges faced by innovative proposals in real-world applications.
This intensive course marks a new development in cross-disciplinary and transnational cooperation between NCKU and SUSS. Future collaborations will continue with SUSS to exchange and share outcomes. Through course collaboration, students will benefit from different countries' and cultures' perspectives and experiences, fostering a global vision and cross-cultural communication skills. These intensive and practical cross-national courses linked to university social responsibility will continue to be developed, cultivating students' practical abilities and innovative thinking, and promoting cooperation among academia, industry, and society to advance societal progress and address real-world problems.
The group photo.
Group Brainstorming and Discussions on Proposals.
Students and Parents from Jiangong Elementary School in Qigu District Share Life Experiences.
Elderly Residents from Renai Community Talk About Retirement Life.
