Abstract of SPROUT Project Goal Achievements and Highlights
Since Nanhua University started implementing the Teaching Excellence Project and the SPROUT Project, the University has sought, with the collective efforts of faculty and administration staff, to continuously make improvements. From 2018 to 2021, almost all key performance indicators of the SPROUT project have been achieved or even exceeded in some cases. In addition, we have achieved a budget implementation rate (excluding the rollover budget) of 100% for the project!
With regard to the implementation of innovative teaching methods and improvement of teaching quality, and to ensure that the three-pronged course differentiation policy (Module, Program, Track) is taking root, as well as the promotion of college interdisciplinary programs, the following are noteworthy: From 2017 to 2021, the percentage of undergraduate students that completed a programming design course increased from 30% to 96%. The number of innovation and entrepreneurship courses on offer increased from 22 to 196, and the number of students enrolled for these courses increased from 1,837 to 8,530. The percentage of instructors that offered innovative teaching courses increased from 40% to 76%, while a 100% student participation rate was achieved for the interdisciplinary and internship programs in the last four years. As a result, the average score for the students’ six core competencies increased from 3.26 in 2017 to 3.62 in 2021. Furthermore, the employment satisfaction index reached 82.85%, the employer satisfaction index reached 89.39%, and the employment rate reached 95.42%. These scores continue to improve cross the board.
In terms of the development of the University’s defining characteristics, the University has continued to actively expand life education and environmental sustainability as its two key brands. For seven consecutive years between 2015-2021, the University was selected by the Ministry of Education to establish the National Life Education Center and received the Life Education University Excellence Award four times. In 2021, the percentage of faculty members and students that attained assessment standards for vitality scores reached 85% and 81% respectively. In addition, the University provided life education courses for 43 high schools, in which 11,267 participants enrolled with 87.25% reporting an improvement in their vitality scores. Nanhua University has also established the Asia Life Education Alliance, and formed partnerships with The Centre for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Guang Ming College (The Philippines), and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (India). In 2021, Nanhua University was ranked 5th in the Top Buddhist Universityworldwide ranking and 1st in the Chinese-speaking regionby UniRank. The establishment of the Sustainability Center became the focal point of the University’s environmental sustainability drive. From 2016 to 2021, the University was ranked in the top 100 of the Green University Worldwide rankings for six consecutive years. In 2020 and 2021, the University was ranked 401-600 worldwide by The Times’ University Social Impact rankings, and in 2021, we received the Asian Network for Quality – Recognition for Excellence in Quality Practice Award (ARE-QP). For three consecutive years from 2019-2021, we were awarded the National Corporate Environmental Protection Award – Gold Award(and the Honorary Environmental Protection Corporate Award). In 2020, the University also received official certification as an Environmental Education Organization and Environmental Education Facility Provider, becoming the only university in southern Taiwan and the second university nationwide to receive a double certification. Moreover, in 2021, Nanhua University received the Art Education Contribution Award for the second time.
In terms ofimprovements in public accessibility to higher education, the University has lowered its tuition fees to that of public universities for all four years. In 2020, a Learning Center was established to provide underprivileged students with assistance and guidance. In 2021, every student received on average 2.4 professional certificates. In terms of improving the quality of faculty members, the University has been actively expanding its multi-track promotion process. In 2021, faculty members with an associate professor or assistant professor ranking have reached 60.4% and 99%, respectively. The University has been able to maintain an instructor to student ratio of 17.69, which is significantly lower than the national average. In order to provide a high level of transparency for matters related to the management of the University, a 100% information update rate have been maintained on the public platform. In addition, accountability reports and student learning assessment reports have continued to be published annually.
With regard to our obligation to social responsibility,from 2018-2021, Nanhua University assisted 197 high schools to promote life education courses, where the percentage of participants that reported improvements in their vitality scores reached 87.25%. We have also worked tirelessly to collaborate with local communities, and as a result, the University has established a University Social Responsibility Project Head Office. Furthermore, the University has formed a Local Academia-industry Alliance with local companies and enterprises with a total of 11 collaborations in 2017, accumulating to 218 collaborations in 2021, which is an 18.8-fold increase averaging 10.9 collaborations per academic department. Moreover, we have established a Chiayi Learning online course as well as a Youth-Elderly Co-learning Initiative to promote and expand social impact in the local community.
The promotion of the University’s defining characteristics has achieved outstanding results. Although the country is faced with a low birth rate crisis, which is having a severe impact on university enrollments, from 2018 to 2020, Nanhua University has been able to achieve a high student registration rate of 94.39%, 95.43%, and 97.23%, respectively, ranking the University first in all private universities nationwide for three consecutive years. In 2021, the registration rate reached 96.54%, making Nanhua University the top-ranked university in category 2 of colleges and universities (7000 students or lower). It is clear that in combination with the SPROUT project, the University has been able to deliver on our key characteristics and attract prospective students. Nanhua University will continue to strive with our vision to become “A Model University for Life Education and Environmental Sustainability”.