Social Impact Amplified:NDHU's 2023 Sustainability Report Released
The shocking 0403 earthquake earlier this year has made it difficult for National Dong Hwa University(NDHU)to release its sustainability report as expected. However, with the concerted efforts, the NDHU 2023 Sustainability Report was successfully published in October 2024. The report provides a comprehensive disclosure of the university's actions and achievements in ESG(Environmental, Social, and Governance), including environmental conservation, social engagement, and talent cultivation. The opening section of the report features a special edition that presents results from activities and research projects related to the 17 UN SDGs and Taiwan's 18 SDGs. A one-page summary highlights NDHU's key accomplishments in 2023.
In the Times Higher Education(THE)Impact Rankings, NDHU was ranked between 301-400 in 2023, an improvement from its 2022 position of 401-600. Among the 45 Taiwanese universities that participated, NDHU achieved a commendable joint 10th place. Praiseworthily, Mendeley Data named 13 NDHU professors among the top 2% of global scientists, recognizing their outstanding academic contributions in the "Career Impact Rankings(1996-2022)" and the "2022 Scientific Impact Rankings."
In recent years, NDHU has actively promoted internationalization, supported by the Ministry of Education's Higher Education SPROUT project. In 2023, the university introduced the "International Administrative Support System," aimed at enhancing the international affairs expertise of administrative and counseling staff, assisting international alumni in adapting to campus life and securing employment in Taiwan, and building an international alumni resource network. These initiatives have extended NDHU's social engagement reach from Taiwan to the global stage.
NDHU addresses biodiversity issues through various initiatives,to name a few,including citizen scientist project of frog data collecting, sea turtle rescue and conservation efforts, periodic replanting of native tree species on campus, and related course offerings. NDHU's engagement even transcends borders, as exemplified by one impressive research in Vietnam that integrates multiple aspects of human-elephant conflict management.
In response to the challenges facing higher education today, such as limited resources, tighter budgets, and increased competition for student encruiment, President Hui-Mi Hsu stated that NDHU will continue to leverage her strengths in 2024, focusing on green energy and a sustainable ecosystem. Plans for green energy include installing ground-based solar power equipment to boost the university's green energy output. For sustainability, 2024 will serve as a baseline year for the Center for Sustainability Development to integrate teaching and research capabilities across colleges and promote ESG-related signature projects. Inspired by the 0403 earthquake, the university has also introduced courses on seismic topics, showcasing NDHU's timely response to climate change issues.
By publishing the sustainability report annually, NDHU demonstrates its ESG performance and impact to stakeholders, reinforcing its academic sustainability competitiveness. Special thanks are extended to the report's collaborative partner, Leadership Management Consulting Co. Ltd., and TÜV NORD Taiwan for conducting external verification. The full range of NDHU's 2023 ESG efforts can be explored in the Sustainability Report, available for download on the university's 〈➜Sustainability Development website〉.