IStepping out of the campus to work with societyTSAA-Taiwan Sustainability Action Award: 4 gold and 1 silver awards given
Tunghai University (THU) won the "University Sustainability Report-Platinum Award" in 2021. THU takes the UN SDGs as the main axis of the school’s development, presenting its sustainable visions, strategies, school governance, social integration, environmental sustainability, economic development and its future paths. The THU SDG axis presents the importance of sustainable education and social responsibility issues. In addition, THU won the "Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards-Model University" again in 2021, which recognized THU's performance in sustainable development, academic energy, SDGs and social promotion. More than that, THU received a total of 4 gold and 1 silver awards at the "TSAA-Taiwan Sustainability Action Award" for society, culture, ecology, and economy.
THU received 4 gold and 1 silver awards at the "TSAA-Taiwan Sustainability Action Award"
Tunghai University combined the UN’s SDGs
Society SDG 3 - Lead a happy life in golden years in Xitun, with you, me and THU
From "establishing a diverse community support system" to "building a health care village", THU provides five major support services and offers practice-oriented courses to connect the elderly with young students . By doing so, THU can build a senior industry with social enterprises. These achievements have been recognized by the Ministry of Education for four consecutive years.
Society SDG 4 - The power of digital companionship
There are 1,200 college students from nearly 30 departments spending their time with 800 students from 14 primary and secondary schools and 2 digital opportunity centers in remote areas. THU students have utilized information technology to enhance their learning partners’ life experience. The accompanying online learning systems that THU built are reproducible and sustainable.
Culture SDG 4 -Education revitalizes a region
THU hopes to overturn the plight of disadvantaged students in the Dadu Mountain area through educational and cultural development. It’s hoped that a mutually beneficial, co-prosperous and sustainable ecosystem could be built because of THU. This year, due to the collaboration between THU and local community organizations, the "Dadushan Local Education Creation" platform was created. Based on local cultures, THU would continue helping communities to create their own memories with innovative methods.
Ecology SDG 6 - A university guards a creek
THU won the 2021 "Taichung City Sustainable City Outstanding Contribution Award". Working with the government and local businesses, THU has improved the environment of Tungta Creek and neighboring areas. In addition, the culture and environmental education centers of Tungta Creek and Razi Creek have been built, introducing the concepts of citizen participation, community construction, ecological rehabilitation, environmental education and landscape construction to the public. It’s hoped that the water protection concepts can be introduced into campuses and communities, leading people to be practitioners of ecological sustainability.
Tunghai University has been received the "Taichung City Sustainable City Outstanding Contribution Award" for three years
Economy SDG 9 - From the cloud to AI: Assisting in the digital transformation and talent cultivation
THU improves the industrial and innovation infrastructure. Since 2018, THU has established the first “Cloud Innovation School” in Taiwan, THU AI centers, and the Tunghai Industry Smart-Transformation Center. In addition, THU has formed the Sheet Metal AI Alliance & National Team to facilitate smart industry transformation in the sheet metal industry, increasing the production capacity and quality of more than 4,000 sheet metal industry manufacturers. Over the past three years, THU has cultivated more than 5,000 talented people for industrial transformation.
References
1. 東大新聞：東海大學寫下歷史新頁 連獲台灣永續典範大學獎、永續報告白金獎、社會共融領袖三項永續最高榮譽大獎
2. 東大新聞：用行動為社會創造共好價值，東海大學獲得台灣永續行動獎四金一銀
3. 東大新聞：東海大學推動環境永續有成 三度蟬聯「臺中市低碳永續城市傑出貢獻獎」
4. 東大新聞：東海大學數位跨域博雅 獲頒通識教育典範學校獎
II
Break through the pandemic impact and deepen international learning
In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-border exchange activities have be reduced. In order to break through this dilemma, THU participated in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), cooperating with more than 30 institutions in 19 countries around the world to promote academic and cultural exchanges. THU also participated in online international exchanges sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) to let more international teachers and students know more about Tunghai University. In April, THU signed an industry-academic exchange contract with the chairman of the Taiwan-Africa Business Association to enhance cooperation and cultivate more talent.
Signed an industry-academic exchange contract with the chairman of the Taiwan-Africa Business Association
Tunghai University and the Fulbright Foundation have signed a cooperation agreement with the Consortium for Study Abroad in Taiwan (CSAT), inviting American teachers and students to THU and encouraging THU students to interact with foreign teachers and students. The THU International Office promotes Oxford University SCIO online courses. In addition to one-on-one meetings with teachers from Oxford University, THU students can have discussions with peers in different countries. At present, 2 students from the THU foreign language department have completed the course and received a certificate of completion from Oxford University.
The Department of Applied Physics combined physical and online resources and cooperated with MIT to create an online education course called edX. The online course has been promoted for nearly 10 years, giving students with strong learning motivations get better In-depth and extensive classes, which trained their self-study ability. During this semester, there are 15 freshmen have obtained Harvard University online course credits and certificates.
Tunghai University Promotes International Education
References
1. 東大新聞：東海大學深化國際教育 應物系培育全球移動力人才
2. 東大新聞：應用物理系線上「物理榮譽課程」與國際名校接軌
3. 東大新聞：東海大學國際化 培育全球移動力人才
4. 中時新聞：台灣非洲經貿協會與東海大學簽交流合約 促進產學合作
5. 自由時報：東海大學深化國際教育 應物系培育全球移動力人才
III
AI Art from Innovative Technologies and A Sustainable Environment from Smart Buildings
The University hosted the Innovation, Technology & AI Art exhibit, co-organized by teachers and students, to showcase the integration of art and technology and highlight the University's success in integrating art with smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, smart ecology, and smart manufacturing, giving new life to innovation and technology through the integration of art.
The exhibition included techno art, digital art, and new media art. Through VR, recordings, AI interactive installation, voice interactions, backlight animation, digital images, and other media, the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on how art and creativity have evolved given the cultural landscape of an era filled with information and technology.
Inviting Visitors to Reflect and Explore Their Environment and Culture through Techno Art, Digital Art & New Media Art
As transdisciplinary creative models become more prevalent, artistic creations have become a new emerging study of integrating different disciplines. The key to the founding of AI art is in the Creator-Algorithm-Audience model, where different human elements are simulated to change the roles of creator and audience, thereby inspiring sympathy and empathy from the audience.
Starting in 2020, Tunghai University has been investing in the AI Smart Building Project, bringing together the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, College of Science, and AI Center to work together and develop an integrated module technology for future smart buildings. The goal is to create a demonstrative smart building prototype of the next generation called the smart seed house, which will target self-sustainability. The main framework of the building will be a low carbon wooden structure and the project consists of two buildings: Urban and Rural. The A.I.O.S. module (Architecture Intelligence Operation System) developed from AI and AIoT technologies will also be applied. The facade of the smart building will be covered with smart sensors, as sensitive as biological skin, to detect and compile big data on the surrounding environment. If poor air quality is detected, the building will launch its algae filter system, purifying air quality indoors by using algae to absorb carbon dioxide and PM2.5 pollutants. The sensors act as an energy-saving layer that can track heat levels from the sun to adjust openings on the facade and reduce thermal radiation indoors.
Smart Seed House Integrates Smart Technology & Sustainable Environment as a Prototype Pursuing Performance, Perception, Connection, and Biophilia
The University has also created an edible scape that is fertilized and watered with a smart system as an example of simple micro-agriculture in the city. The produce is then exchanged on social media. The Shared Table helps monitor environmental data, observe plant health and harvest time, and share recipes or cook remotely. The Smart Seed House uses technology to balance the mind and body, is an active medium for environment interaction, and can be a prospective indicator for sustainable buildings in Taiwan.
References
1. 中央社訊息平台：「創新‧科技‧AI藝術」在東海藝術中心展出
2. 東大新聞：「創新‧科技‧AI藝術」在東海藝術中心展出
3. 東大新聞： 東海大學「藝術・AI・未來」藝術中心酷炫展出
4. 新頭殼：引爆ArtTech 東海大學周忠信教授團隊將辦「藝術•AI•融合」創作展
IV
Digital Learning after the Pandemic
Technology is changing rapidly and bringing new developments in teaching and learning models. Everyone has a smartphone now, meaning that learning is no longer simply face-to-face offline courses but can be presented in many new, different experiences. The University is developing new digital learning models in the hopes that students and teachers will no longer be limited by space or time and can freely utilize their times in various settings to achieve true self-learning.
In 2021, the University starting mapping out the Digital Learning Center to further strengthen Tunghai University as a smart campus and to integrate outdoor education, residential learning, and smart education. All teachers and students at Tunghai University can expand their settings for learning and teaching with digital information and are no longer limited by time or space, facilitating self-learning on campus. The Digital Learning Center uses a Smart War Room, which contains campus data, for remote control and to connect smart classrooms. The Center is also organizing a digital empowerment workshop to help teachers learn and apply more digital teaching tools. Students can use new learning experiences to progress their digital capabilities and increase learning efficiency. Given the severe pandemic, both students and teachers have been able to continue to progress through new digital learning models.
The organization structure of Smart Campus
Founding of the Digital Learning Center
In response to the pandemic, the majority of classes have been changed to remote classes, digital learning is being more broadly applied, and there is a growing demand for course platforms and related digital services. To prepare for campus digitalization, the Computer Center has integrated many digital application services such as THU Line Bot Platform, iLearn Platform, Smart Green Energy Management Platform, Smart Campus Energy Monitoring System, etc. as early as the end of 2018. Before the Digital Learning Center was founded, the University also worked to build a space for digital learning, e.g., the AI-PBL in the library, Chuangsi Space, etc. With the Digital Learning Center now established, the Office of Academic Affairs has also set up Smart Classrooms and Smart Auditoriums to facilitate the digitalization of courses and other learning activities for students and teachers.
The University also discussed with teachers about designing their digital courses, integrating learning activities from the THU iLearn Platform to develop a digital course with comprehensive units, interactive discussions, online tests, and rubrics to assess learning performance. Studios in the library and the College of Social Sciences have both been enlisted to help with filming courses. The Digital Learning center also has an editing section and related equipment for teachers and students to work in.
Digital Learning Center
System Images of Line Bot and iLearn
Digital Learning Center - Smart Recordings, Smart War Room, and Smart Studio Livestream Event
Worsening Pandemic Forces Courses Online
On May 17, 2021, in response to the unwaning Covid-19 pandemic and in consideration of the student and faculty's health and safety, the University decided to move all courses online. THU teachers held online teaching sessions through the iLearn Platform and Microsoft Teams. The majority of teachers were severely stressed with offline courses being moved online and so the Computer Center and Office of Academic Affairs decided to establish an IT Support Team immediately to help with the transition, offer digitalization training to all colleges, offer immediate support to all teachers, and set up a special FAQ section for teachers to peruse. At the start of this year, the University has installed 188 classroom cameras and 65 webcams across computer classrooms so teachers to teach online in their original classrooms. In addition to teaching online in real-time, teachers are also encouraged to record lessons for students to review after class. To such ends, the Digital Learning Center has established Smart Classrooms with smart recording functions in the College of Social Sciences, College of Management, and Humanities Building. In addition to course digitalization, the Office of Academic Affairs is also implementing an OKR Plan and actively developing the University's digital capabilities by launching digital courses with teachers across all colleges and asking teachers from the Graduate Institute of Education to help design learning efficiency assessments for digital learning. By integrating course design with digital learning tools such as iLearn Platform, the University is facilitating strong learning efficiency and extraordinary digital competitiveness under the digital learning model, transforming the crisis caused by Covid-19 into an opportunity for change.
Quick Guide on iLearn Online Assessment and Teaching Remotely
Teachers Capitalizing on Digital Tools to Pass on Professional Knowledge
A Brand New Future: Embracing the New Online Era of THU
Since applying for the MOOCs Program in 2018, the Office of Academic Affairs has been dedicated to developing various types of digital courses. Throughout the process, we recognized that Tunghai University really needs its own course strategy platform. With the Digital Learning Center being established, Tunghai Online has also become a core development target for the Center.
Tunghai Online is a systematic and open curation platform. The main framework is digital courses offered by different colleges at Tunghai University. The platform will allow browsers to access all digital course information and watch all open courses; private courses will require browsers to log in to the iLearn Platform to authenticate their identity. Tunghai Online contains a wealth of courses as well as recordings of enablement lectures for teachers and students for absent teachers and students to enjoy the lecture as well. There are also tags for occupational education and alumni speeches for other units in the University to use for marketing content. In the future, the Digital Learning Center will also help establish Tunghai TV as a livestream platform for sharing THU information and current events on campus to help more people learn about Tunghai and galvanize the Tunghai community.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a pressing demand for the digital era. The Digital Learning Center's mission is to transform the crisis into an opportunity for change. Bringing offline courses online, introducing digital learning tools, etc. are all new and serious challenges for Tunghai University but the University has been able to integrate multiple systems across the campus by capitalizing on the Higher Education SPROUT Project. By integrating smart campus scenarios, the University has also been able to ensure that "digitalization" is not merely a "slogan" for the new era but a "key" to realizing a new future. Given the aforementioned premise, the University will continue to develop digital learning and related matters, build a digital learning assessment system, and develop a diverse digital learning model to ensure that students and teachers at Tunghai University can both engage in professional development through digital learning even after the pandemic.
THU Online Website
Lab Class Integrated with HoloLens2 Digital Course
(Video) Senior Empowerment Issue-Based Hackathon Challenges New Social Norms
In November 2021, the THU Industry Collaboration and Incubation Center, College of Active Aging and Technology, and Plahan Base co-organized a two-day issue-based hackathon on geriatric health and empowering seniors. Students of different disciplines would enter the field to better understand the topics pertinent to an aging society, including the seniors, care-takers, nursing homes, and the overall community environment. Teachers used workshops to inspire students to think deeper into the issue and to apply their own expertise in connection with other disciplines. Teachers wanted students to think and design out of the box to eventually uncover a new solution.
The issue-based hackathon on empowering seniors attempts to train students in practicum and critical thinking with limited time, manpower, and resources through long hack activities. As teachers inspire creativity and thinking, they also cultivate students' abilities to think about the challenges of new social norms and thereby develop solutions to resolve such challenges and help society progress towards the common good.