I-SHOU UNIVERSITY

The Ministry of Education recently announced the approval results for the fourth phase (2025–2027) of the University Social Responsibility (USR) Program. I-Shou University (ISU) successfully obtained approval for all three of its emerging university-featured USR projects. These approved projects address key topics, including environmental sustainability, local care, health promotion, and food safety, demonstrating ISU's strategic planning and remarkable achievements in the USR field.

ISU actively promotes the USR initiative, encouraging faculty and students to engage in interdisciplinary and practical research. The program emphasizes the principle of “extending education beyond the campus and integrating faculty and students into the community,” aiming to not only cultivate students' practical skills and problem-solving abilities but also guide them to apply their knowledge in fulfilling social responsibilities.

Featured USR Projects

1. Health Promotion and Food Safety

   • Project Title: Yan-Chao Senior Wellness Lab: Building an All-Age-Friendly Smart Living Circle
   • Lead Researcher: Dr. Yun-Ju Chen
   • Overview: Focusing on Kaohsiung’s Yanchao District, this project aims to create an all-age-friendly smart living circle through holistic health promotion, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The project offers health education, disease prevention, and screening services while integrating comprehensive health assessments and fostering exercise habits. It enhances seniors' psychological and social health, ultimately aiming to delay long-term care needs.

2. Environmental Sustainability

   • Project Title: Shin-Yuan Green Core: A Circular Economy for Smart Sustainable Agriculture
   • Lead Researcher: Dr. Jia-Rong Zhuo
   • Overview: This project drives innovative smart agriculture in Pingtung’s Xinyuan Township, grounded in sustainable principles. It focuses on the effective utilization of agricultural waste, emphasizes carbon footprint management, and innovates green values. By introducing a rice carbon footprint economy model, the initiative reduces agricultural carbon emissions, supports local farmers’ income, and enhances the economic value of smart agriculture through advanced technologies.

3. Local Care

   • Project Title: Meinong Generational Harmony: Sustainable Pathways for Hakka Culture and Healthy Living
   • Lead Researcher: Dr. Li-Chin Chen
   • Overview: Based in Kaohsiung’s Meinong District, this project integrates community health and cultural preservation. Through intergenerational collaboration and cultural transmission, it promotes all-age health initiatives and strengthens elderly care. By incorporating the unique Hakka culture of Meinong into arts and cultural activities, the project revitalizes community engagement, deepens cultural identity, enhances social responsibility, and fosters sustainable community development.

A Commitment to Social Responsibility

Dr. Yun-Ju Chen, Director of ISU’s Research and Development Office, stated that issues related to aging and sustainability are increasingly prominent on the global stage. In response to Taiwan's aging society and environmental changes, ISU’s fourth-phase USR program focuses on themes such as "elderly nutrition and health care," "integration of smart technology into medical science education," "circular economy and sustainable environment," "cultural preservation and regeneration," and "regional marketing and tourism development."

By developing unique operational models across diverse fields, ISU actively integrates its core strengths in "Health and Medical Sciences X Smart Technology" and the advantages of being a comprehensive university. These efforts create significant community impacts, facilitate knowledge-sharing among faculty and students, and contribute to societal well-being and sustainability.