SPROUT Project
Phase 1 Goal Achievements and Highlights
Abstract
Nanhua University’s overall goal for phase 1 (2018-2022) of the SPROUT project was to “Deepen students’ learning outcome; Enhance Nanhua’s defining characteristics; Expand the public’s accessibility to higher education; Amplify the role of the local community”. The aim of phase 1 was to advance the University’s life education and environmental sustainability initiatives to become a brand to be reckoned with. There were six core development pillars in the 2018-2022 university development strategy. Below are the accomplishments of the goals set out in four projects of the development strategy:
With regard to “Deepening student’s learning outcome”, the curriculum was reformed from a three-pronged course differentiation setup (program, module, track) to a five-pronged course differentiation setup that included the addition of self-study and interdisciplinary aspects of learning. A four-year interdisciplinary implementation map was created as part of the University’s employability framework, which integrated local enterprises to establish an academia-industry network that offers ‘usage-based learning’ courses centered on employability, internship, and on-site training. This framework established the foundation of Nanhua University’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as strengthened faculty members’ support system to advance flipped learning strategies. Research analysis results showed that: The average scores for the students’ six core competencies increased from 3.26 in 2017 to 3.84 in 2022. Furthermore, the self-efficacy and education value indices increased from 3.66 and 3.54, respectively, to 3.83 and 3.89. The average scores for the four criteria in the “self-sensing of life index” increased from 3.74 to 3.87. In 2017, the employment satisfaction index, employer satisfaction index, and the employment rate increased from 79.20%, 87.05%, and 90.23%, respectively, to 82.91%, 89.17%, and 94.32% in 2022. In the last five years, the percentage of students taking interdisciplinary, internship or on-site training courses continued to reach 100%.
In terms of “Enhancing Nanhua’s defining characteristics”, from 2018 to 2022 the University continued to be selected by the Ministry of Education to host the National Life Education Center on campus. During this period, the University also received the “Life Education University Excellence Award” four times. In 2022, Nanhua University held a grand opening for the “Taiwan Life Education Image Hall” and established the “Asia Life Education Alliance” with five Asian universities. By promoting the “Build a green campus through environmental sustainability” initiative, from 2017-2022 the University improved from 92nd to 64th in the Green University Worldwide rankings. For three consecutive years from 2019-2021, we were awarded the National Corporate Environmental Protection Award – Gold Award. In 2022, the University was honored with the National Enterprise Environmental Protection Titan Award, and ranked 401-600 worldwide from 2020-2022 by the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings. In order to “Let Nanhua connect with the world, and the world connect with Nanhua”, the University has been working on advancing its EMI (English medium instruction) courses. From 2021-2022, Nanhua University received approval from the Ministry of Education to implement the “University Bilingual Improvement Project”. During this period, the percentage of English classes that used English as the only medium of instruction increased from 7% to 12.7%. The percentage of second year undergraduates and first year graduates taking an EMI course increased from 12.08% to 13.11%. Moreover, the percentage of undergraduates reaching B2 level at graduation improved from 2.7% to 7.98%.
With regard to “Expanding the public’s accessibility to higher education”, the University has set up an Institutional Research Information Platform to build an evidence-based, sound management mechanism, from which four editions of institutional research analysis reports have been published. In order to implement the University’s philosophy, which is defined by “For Public Good, For Righteousness”, the information platform is updated at set times to ensure full transparency on matters related to the University. In 2020, Nanhua University established the “Learning Center”, which integrates all support mechanisms for financially disadvantaged students, expands the participation of volunteers, and promotes the “Three Acts of Goodness” initiative. The University has also lowered its instructor-to-student ratio, improved the full-time to part-time instructor ratio, revised the “Compensation and Reward” regulations, and initiated a reform to improve faculty performance. The results of the institutional research analysis showed: From 2018-2022, the percentage of disadvantaged students that achieved basic competency, interdisciplinary competency, innovative competency, and employment competency increased from 78% to 81.69%. From 2017-2022, the survey on faculty members’ satisfaction with teaching facilities and infrastructures, and workload showed increases from 68.8% and 67.4%, respectively, to 73.6% and 76.8%.
In terms of “Amplifying the role of the local community”, a “Regional Academia-Industry Alliance” was established in which the number of link-ups between academic departments and local enterprises grew from 11 in 2017 to 268 in 2022, which is a growth rate of 24.4 times. A “University Social Responsibility Project Office” and a “University Social Responsibility Base Station” have also been established. From 2017-2022, the number of schools, communities, and localities that Nanhua University supported to promote environmental education increased from 10 to 24. The University was honored to receive the 2022 Global Views Monthly USR Award. We also participated in the 2022 Asia-Pacific Sustainable Action Expo in which we received the “Green Design Award – Bronze Medal” (We were the only tertiary education institution to receive such an award).