I-SHOU UNIVERSITY

The 9th Taipei Golden Eagle Micro Movie Festival took place on September 12 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1, attracting 150 participating organizations from industry, government, academia, and research, with 173 entries competing for top honors. Covering diverse themes such as social inclusion, health promotion, environmental education, and circular economy, the event saw ISU’s USR team stand out with its film “Xin Yuan Geng Xin: Yi Tong Shou Hu,” which won the Bronze Award for Sustainability Microfilm and the Third Place in the Online Popularity Award with 24,024 votes. ISU was the only university in Taiwan to receive dual honors, underscoring its deep commitment to community engagement and its strong momentum in advancing sustainable development.

Created collaboratively by ISU’s USR team and the residents of Xinyuan Township in Pingtung, the award-winning film focuses on the heritage of traditional ox-plowing culture, the choices young people face upon returning home, and the challenges and hopes of rural transformation. Through authentic storytelling, it brings local narratives to life and highlights the deep connection between rural culture and social issues. Unlike overly dramatized portrayals, “Xin Yuan Geng Xin: Yi Tong Shou Hu” adopts a sincere and grounded perspective that resonates emotionally, transforming the concept of sustainability from policy discourse into stories that touch everyday life.

ISU stated that receiving two awards in this competition not only recognizes the hard work of its USR team but also reflects the university's growing visibility in its commitment to engaging with local communities and co-creating social value. The honor not only represents an achievement but also signifies an ongoing responsibility to advance the ideals of university social responsibility. Moving forward, ISU will continue to respond to societal needs through professional practice and foster interdisciplinary talent that combines a sustainable vision with a deep concern for local development, further integrating academic education with social engagement. Chia-Jung Cho, Director of the Sustainable Development Research Center, remarked, “Through this kind of practice, we hope to make the university a strong pillar of local sustainability, promoting the integration of agriculture, technology, and culture, and realizing the goal of ‘local connection and talent cultivation.’” The film is not just a creative work, but represents an intergenerational cultural legacy. Throughout the process, students not only honed their filmmaking skills but also immersed themselves in the community, working alongside farmers to preserve invaluable cultural memories.

The film also represents an important extension of ISU’s USR initiatives, “Green Value, Innovative Footprints” and “Seasonal Agri-Food and Cultural Heritage.” Through collaboration with the Xinyuan Township Office, local farmers, and students, the project connects diverse aspects, including circular material reuse, carbon footprint auditing, smart agriculture enhancement, film production, brand management, and agricultural tourism, showcasing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary cooperation. For students, it was a journey of transforming classroom knowledge into hands-on experience. For the community, the university’s involvement sparked cultural revitalization and opened up new opportunities for local development.

The dual honors not only recognize ISU’s USR team for its dedication and achievements in sustainability, but also illustrate a new direction for higher education: one that steps into local communities, extending learning beyond textbooks and into the land itself, where students learn what it truly means to contribute. Through its USR initiatives, ISU continues to work hand in hand with residents, transforming the cultural memories of rural life into moving images and further turning those images into concrete actions that embody the university’s core vision of “thriving together with the community.”