University Social Responsibility (USR)

University Social Responsibility System of CSU

Based on the University’s Institutional Development Plan and the Higher Education Sprout Project: Innovative Practice, Cross-Disciplinary Integration, Local Engagement, and Global Alignment, Cheng Shiu University has mapped out its University Social Responsibility (USR) blueprint. With the vision of “Building a Sustainable Campus and Advancing a Thriving Local Community,” the University set dual goals of Sustainable Campus and Sustainable Community. Four action dimensions—Education, Economy, Culture, and Environment—were established to guide implementation. These core values of campus sustainability integrate regional and academic resources to foster community development, strengthen industrial clusters, and promote cultural innovation.

Overall USR Development Plan

As USR implementation and sustainability issues become increasingly diverse and complex, the Office of Social Responsibility and Sustainability has expanded its mandate to include campus sustainability promotion. The Office integrates USR initiatives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advancing mid- to long-term planning, innovative curriculum consultation, and faculty and partner community engagement. Through the publication of CSR yearbooks and sustainability reports, the University showcases its strengths while strengthening connections with stakeholders.

Cheng Shiu University USR Implementation Blueprint

5-1 Cheng Shiu University Usr Implementation Blueprint

USR Project Implementation and Support Mechanism

The University develops and implements strategies and programs under four core dimensions: Education, Economy, Culture, and Environment. Projects are categorized into three levels—Nursery, Seed, and Sprout—based on their completeness and maturity.

Performance outcomes are monitored by the Office of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, which oversees both project evaluation and budget review. Based on annual results, projects may apply for advancement to a higher level in the following year.

CSU’s USR Project Hierarchical Framework

5-1 CSU’s USR Project Hierarchical Framework

		Level 3	Sprout Stage	Higher Education Sprout Project (Supplementary Volume) – University Social Responsibility (USR) Practice Project
	Level 2		Seed Stage	Higher Education Sprout Project (Main Volume) – Social Responsibility Dimension
Level 1			Nursery Stage

Number of USR Projects

USR-Related Budget Allocation, 2022–2024 (Unit: NT$10,000)

Item	2022	2023	2024
University Social Responsibility (USR) Project	1,485	1,246	1,155
Higher Education Sprout Project (Main Volume) – Social Responsibility	710	1,175	1,014
Higher Education Sprout Project (Supplementary Volume) – Student Assistance Mechanism	78	92	98
MOE Subsidy for the Overall Development of Private Universities	497	577	351
Others (e.g., Industry–Academia Collaboration)	-	290	330
Total	2,771	3,382	2,949

Historical Investment in USR-Related Programs (Unit: NT$10,000)

USR Core Dimensions

Diverse Learning and Educational Sustainability

Education is the driving force for local transformation and the foundation of a sustainable community.

At Cheng Shiu University, faculty and students work hand in hand to engage with rural areas, communities, and schools. University students are trained as teaching assistants to deliver diverse programs—including coding and maker courses, cultural heritage preservation, bilingual early childhood education, sustainability, and lifelong learning. These initiatives help balance urban–rural education resources, promote equal learning opportunities, nurture local talent, and cultivate regional innovation capacity.

Seed Stage Projects

● Urban Senior Multi-Growth Program

● Silver Health And Intergenerational Co-Learning Program

Responsible unit

College of Living Creativity

Nursery Stage Projects

● Local Talent Development Program – 3 Projects (Social Practice Courses, Volunteer Service, Community Benchmark Learning)

● Cross-Age Diverse Education Program – 4 Projects (Rural Digital/Health Education, Early Childhood Sustainability/Bilingual Education)

● Dementia Care and Health Promotion Program

Responsible unit

Office Of Academic Affairs; Office Of Student Affairs

College Of Engineering; College Of Living Creativity

Industry Linkage and Economic Sustainability

When local industries grow in value and quality of life improves, young people are inspired to “return home” and pursue their dreams.

Focusing on agriculture, tourism, and machine tool industries in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung region, Cheng Shiu University engages faculty and students in field-based actions as talent connectors. By building industry consensus communities and strengthening academia–industry alliances, the University drives regional innovation and talent advancement.

Seed Stage Projects

● Rural Agricultural Development Program

● Local Industry–Academia Linkage Program

Responsible unit

College of Health and Management;
Center for Engineering Research Technology

Nursery Stage Projects

● Agricultural Innovation and Value-Added Promotion Program

● Brand Taoyuan Aiyu Rural Development Program

● International Civic–Industry Co-Prosperity Program

Responsible unit

College of Health and Management;
College of Life and Creativity

Local Care and Cultural Sustainability

By listening to the voices of elders, we not only accompany but also inherit and carry forward local culture.

Through collaboration between the University and community resources, faculty and students—guided by experts and field practice—engage in community care, Indigenous inclusion, and the preservation of traditional folk arts, advancing the goal of cultural sustainability.

Seed Stage Projects

● Harbor City Heritage Learning Program

● Aesthetic Education and Cultural Preservation Program

Responsible unit

Center for General Education; Conservation and Research Center

Nursery Stage Projects

● University Support and Local Care Program

● Traditional Folk Performance Culture Promotion Program

Responsible unit

Office of Academic Affairs、Sports Center

Regional Co-Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability begins with our actions—reducing carbon on campus and working with industry to create a low-carbon harbor city.

Grounded in the Philosophy of co-prosperity and sustainability, Cheng Shiu University integrates the expertise of the Office of General Affairs, faculty and students, and the Center for Environmental Toxins and Emerging Contaminants. Together, they advance initiatives on carbon reduction, environmental sustainability, and food safety, while fostering local talent and supporting industry transformation.

Seed Stage Projects

● Sustainable Development Program for Industrial Cities

Responsible unit

Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research

Nursery Stage Projects

● Innovative Green Planting and Sustainable Living Program

● Niaosong Environmental Education Implementation Program

● Plastic Reduction and Sustainable Living Program

● Carbon Reduction Education and Campus Practice Program

Responsible unit

College of Life and Creativity
Office of General Affairs;
Office of Student Affairs

USR Practice Plan

Sprout Stage Projects

In 2024, the University implemented four “USR Budding Projects” under the Ministry of Education’s University Social Responsibility program. Led by faculty teams, these projects mapped local resources and issues across the Kaohsiung–Pingtung region, including Qishan, Linyuan, and Qijin Districts in Kaohsiung and Xinpi Township in Pingtung. Focusing on community care, industry linkages, and environmental sustainability, the projects integrated courses and external resources to jointly promote regional development.

Project Name	Proud Bananas: Daqishan Model Innovative Cooperative Production Implementation Project
Origin	Focusing on agriculture and long-term care in Qishan, the University visited Muroran, Hokkaido, to learn from its resource integration, talent training, and community care models. These practices are applied in Qishan and Qimei to modernize agriculture, train local care talent, and encourage youth return, fostering regional sustainability, economic vitality, and expanding students’ global perspectives.
SDG
Strategy	Strategy 1:Barrier-Free Village Classrooms Strategy 2: Talent Rooting – Qishan Learning Strategy 3: Sustainability – 29 Farmers’ Cooperative
Highlights	● Barrier-Free Education Philosophy: Break down the boundary between traditional schooling and community practice by creating “village classrooms.” Community sites become learning spaces integrating care for disadvantaged groups, cultural heritage preservation, and industry development—building an education model that aligns academic learning with local needs. ● Qishan Learning as a Local Academic Brand: Introduce innovative “Qishan Learning” courses that combine local knowledge with practical skills, deepening students’ understanding of the community. This bottom-up approach fosters local identity and enables reciprocal empowerment between learning and the community. ● Industry–Education Integration: With “Erjiu Farmers’ Cooperative” as the hub, establish a platform for local industry collaboration and innovation. The program supports small farmers and local enterprises in enhancing brand value and developing unique products (e.g., wooden speakers, specialty agricultural goods), injecting vitality into the local economy. ● 2024 Achievements: 48 USR innovative courses offered; 2,161 student enrollments; 43 stakeholders/partners engaged; 98 USR courses and seminars conducted; 47 local youths guided in continuing community industries; and 8 empowerment programs for retired elders in the community. International Exchange International Exchange on Regional Care and Industrial Innovation Focusing on agricultural and long-term care development in the Qishan region, the University organized a visit to Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, to learn from its integrated resource management, talent training, and community care models. These experiences are being applied in Qishan and Daqimei to modernize agriculture, cultivate local long-term care talent, and encourage youth to return, thereby revitalizing the population and achieving regional sustainability and economic co-prosperity. At the same time, the initiative broadens students’ international perspectives and practical skills.

5-1. 旗心協力・青春走跳學工夫，從田野踏查到親子共樂的泥巴節 ▲Black-Faced Spoonbill Youth Task Force Assisted in the Kou’ai Mud Festival

無藩籬的村落教室 ▲Silver-Youth Exchange Activity

▲ USR Short Film

Project Name	Uniting New Residents: Qijin Empowerment Initiative
Origin	New residents have become Taiwan’s fifth largest demographic group, with Cijin having the highest proportion in Kaohsiung. To address the cultural, economic, and educational challenges they face, the University integrates campus and external resources to create a positive cycle, embodying the core spirit of University Social Responsibility (USR).
SDG
Strategy	Strategy 1: Employment and Entrepreneurship through Skills Training Strategy 2: Passing on and Understanding Local Talents in Cijin Strategy 3: Integration and Cooperation through Respect and Inclusion
Highlights	● Skills Training for Employment and Entrepreneurship: Expanded certification programs beyond Chinese cuisine to include caregiving, beauty, nail, and eyelash services, enhancing job and entrepreneurship opportunities for new residents. Leveraged local ingredients to develop creative cuisine, promote micro-entrepreneurship, and bridge cultural dietary differences. ● Talent Inheritance and Understanding: Launched the Shining Light mentorship program with 1,120 service hours, supporting second-generation immigrant children’s development through the “168 Shinguang Team.” Organized food culture exchanges and the Home ATM project, offering Southeast Asian dishes by international students, and fostering cultural understanding through international volunteering. ● Integration through Respect and Cooperation: Strengthened Mandarin learning for new residents, produced 12 life-story episodes to promote cultural exchange, and developed “Jindian Fish Sauce” with local flavors, repurposing marine resources to revitalize Cijin’s fishing village industry. ● 2024 Outcomes: 32 USR innovative courses; 1,999 student enrollments; 39 stakeholders/partners engaged; 7 certification classes; 3 new resident restaurants supported; and 200 hours of Mandarin courses delivered. International Exchange International Exchange on The Fish Sauce Industry In 2024, the University conducted field visits and technical exchanges in Akita, Japan, and Hanoi, Vietnam. By drawing on Japan’s brewing expertise, the project enhanced Taiwan’s fish sauce production and quality, strengthening the “Jindian Fish Sauce” brand. These efforts deepened Taiwan–Japan and Taiwan–Vietnam partnerships, promoted technology transfer and knowledge sharing, expanded access to Southeast Asian markets, and fostered regional industry–academia collaboration and supply chain integration.

5-1. ▲學生用丁香魚釀造魚露 ▲Brewing Fish Sauce with Anchovies

▲新光閃閃陪伴計畫 ▲Shining Light Mentorship Program

▲ USR Short Film

Project Name	Safe Food, Healthy Aging, and Sustainable Linyuan
Origin	Linyuan has long been central to Taiwan’s chemical industry, yet frequent environmental and safety incidents have left negative impacts. This project focuses on testing local agricultural and aquaculture products, strengthening food safety education, and improving farming environments. At the same time, it promotes health programs for the elderly and fosters a supportive learning environment, addressing gaps in community care services.
SDG
Strategy	Strategy 1: Scientific Testing for Food Safety Strategy 2: Value-Added Marketing of Local Products Strategy 3: Elderly Care and Health Promotion Strategy 4: Talent Development for Linyuan’s Sustainability
Highlights	● Upgrading Aquaculture Value Chains: Assisted farmers with regular seawater quality testing (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity) and random sampling. Standardized response procedures help mitigate risks from poor water quality and environmental issues, improving aquaculture yield. ● Value-Added Food Processing: Enhanced sales and productivity of local agricultural and fishery products by ensuring food safety and supporting product development through processing, increasing overall value. ● Revitalizing Idle Spaces for Shared Learning: Transformed the USR base into an Experiential Co-Learning Hub for elderly engagement, offering diverse local courses to strengthen participation and inclusiveness. ● 2024 Achievements: 9 USR innovative courses (955 enrollments), 22 stakeholders/partners engaged, 30 product and water tests conducted, 35 elder-care courses held, and 266 youth volunteers trained. Sustainable Environment Ensuring Food Safety Through Testing and Consulting In 2024, the University assisted Linyuan with 19 tests, covering aquaculture and groundwater heavy metals (3 each), drug residues in aquatic products (6), heavy metals in aquatic products (6), and agricultural produce heavy metals (1). Professional consulting, improvement guidance, and long-term monitoring were provided, building a systematic data framework. Special testing targeted malachite green and crystal violet, two banned aquaculture drugs with antibacterial properties. Through strict and regular monitoring, the project safeguarded food safety, helped farmers avoid violations, ensured product quality, and strengthened both industry reputation and community health for sustainable development.

▲Supporting Agricultural and Fishery Producers in Product Development

▲Summer Camp on Food Safety and Environmental Awareness

▲ USR Short Film

Project Name	Xinpi Fiber Frontier: Regenerating Xinpi Township
Origin	In Xinpi Township, the outmigration of young and working-age residents is severe, leaving agriculture and livestock as the dominant but stagnating primary industries. To increase farmers’ income and add value to agricultural products, the University organized local farmers’ markets and introduced online marketing and blockchain technology. These efforts strengthen production traceability and ensure transparent, high-quality product records, thereby enhancing consumer trust and market competitiveness.
SDG
Strategy	Strategy 1: Agricultural Value-Adding through Brand Marketing Strategy 2: Leisure and Tourism – Enjoy Xinpi Strategy 3: Youth Employment – “Food in Xinpi” Initiative
Highlights	● Upgrading Aquaculture Value Chains: Assisted farmers with regular seawater quality testing (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity) and random sampling. Standardized response procedures help mitigate risks from poor water quality and environmental issues, improving aquaculture yield. ● Value-Added Food Processing: Enhanced sales and productivity of local agricultural and fishery products by ensuring food safety and supporting product development through processing, increasing overall value. ● Revitalizing Idle Spaces for Shared Learning: Transformed the USR base into an Experiential Co-Learning Hub for elderly engagement, offering diverse local courses to strengthen participation and inclusiveness. ● 2024 Achievements: 9 USR innovative courses (955 enrollments), 22 stakeholders/partners engaged, 30 product and water tests conducted, 35 elder-care courses held, and 266 youth volunteers trained. Industry Innovation Collaborating with Enterprises and Small Farmers to Advance Food and Agriculture Sustainability Cheng Shiu University signed an MOU with Hanlai Gourmet and Pingtung Yaguo Agricultural Marketing Cooperative, bridging local farmers with corporate resources to enhance product value. By sourcing premium agricultural products from Xinpi, Hanlai reduced food miles, lowered carbon emissions, and fulfilled its corporate social responsibility. This tripartite collaboration fostered industry upgrading and cross-sector cooperation. Building on the success of the Xinpi Sustainability project, the initiative was elevated in 2025 to the fourth-phase USR Deepening Project, Xinjia Sustainability, extending its scope to Jiadong Township in Pingtung. The project promotes the “Revitalizing Zuodui, Creating a New Jiadong” action plan, integrating tourism, design, and cultural heritage restoration to establish an innovative platform merging culture and gastronomy.

▲Guiding Farmers in Using Blockchain Data Collection Devices

▲Collaborating with Hanlai Yagu to Create a Win-Win-Win Outcome

▲ USR Short Film

University Social Responsibility Practice Sites

Cheng Shiu University has long been rooted in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung region, building on the achievements of the Higher Education Sprout Project (2017–2024) and years of University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives. Over time, the scope of engagement and the number of project teams have steadily expanded, advancing four dimensions of sustainability: education, economy, culture, and environment. In 2024, the University carried out 17 nursery projects, 7 seed projects, and 4 USR sprout projects, totaling 28 faculty–student teams with the participation of more than 200 faculty members guiding students in local engagement.

To address the growing impacts of extreme climate events and to respond to the strong concerns of faculty and students on net-zero carbon emissions and biodiversity, the University expanded its practice fields in 2024 across 18 districts in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, strengthening its social impact. Building on existing sites and themes, efforts in 2024 focused particularly on environmental and ecological initiatives, fostering team development and project implementation. Through these actions, the University underscores its responsibility in advancing environmental sustainability, aiming to play a leading role in talent cultivation and regional development.

USR Practice Sites, 2024

Kaohsiung City

15 districts

Niaosong, Fengshan, Daliao, Mituo, Ziguan, Taoyuan, Jiaxian, Liugui, Meinong, Renwu, Yancheng, Linyuan, Qijin, Qishan, Shanlin

Pingtung County

3 townships

Xinpi, Laiyi, Liuqiu

Advancing Impact Evaluation of Social Responsibility Initiatives

To effectively evaluate the implementation of the University’s development policies and strategies, we established an assessment framework built on four core dimensions: institutional governance, talent cultivation, local engagement, and global connection. This framework integrates multiple tools, including institutional databases and surveys, to systematically analyze how resource allocation impacts stakeholders. Through short-term and medium-to-long-term evaluations of social responsibility outcomes, the University continuously refines decision-making and incorporates the findings into its University Development Plan, enhancing both precision and foresight in institutional advancement.

Each March, the University publishes its Annual University Social Responsibility Report, featuring a dedicated section on stakeholder engagement and communication outcomes. The report highlights the progress of performance indicators and the execution of strategic initiatives, showcasing the University’s contribution to regional development. This mechanism supports both a sustainable campus and community, advancing the University’s vision of long-term sustainability.

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