Higher Education SPROUT Project

Aletheia University upholds the founding mission of promoting the spirit of Dr. George Leslie Mackay. With "Pursuit of Truth, Love, and Service" as its core values, the University is dedicated to fostering character, ethics, and knowledge education, cultivating global citizens with international perspectives and a sense of social responsibility. In response to the diverse challenges and development trends of higher education, the university has strengthened its distinct advantages in culture, technology, and innovation; deepened interdisciplinary learning and practice-oriented teaching; leveraged local connections while expanding international collaboration; and continuously devoted efforts to supporting underprivileged groups and public service. Through systematic teaching innovation and comprehensive student development strategies, the university is progressively shaping itself into a teaching-oriented institution that integrates humanistic literacy, digital capability, and practical expertise.

The project encompasses five major domains. A summary of achievements and key highlights is presented as follows:

1. Domain One: Teaching Innovation and Enhancement
Key Highlights:

1. Launched the mandatory 2-credit course “Aletheia Freshman Seminar” to cultivate critical thinking, self-awareness, and essential career competencies in first-year students.
2. The Department of Applied Music’s annual concert involved students in the entire process from performance to administration, demonstrating interdisciplinary collaboration and practical execution. It attracted about 300 attendees to the Luzhou KHS Hall.
3. Integrated AI into Japanese language learning and interdisciplinary applications, paired with cultural experience courses to foster learners with global perspectives and autonomous learning abilities.
4. Formed the “Alliance for Empowering Smart Future - Sustainable and Cultivated Digital Learning” with Tamkang University and four other institutions; launched five MOOCs on the Ministry of Education’s EDU+ platform.
5. Established 20 interdisciplinary programs to strengthen students’ cross-field competencies.
6. Two courses successfully implemented international mobile learning experiences.
7. Improved campus infrastructure and AI-learning environments to enhance digital and AI literacy among faculty and students.
8. Expanded ESG, SDGs, and AI-related library collections and campus activities with steady growth.
9. Secured 24 Ministry of Education Teaching Practice Research Project grants.

2. Domain Two: Fulfillment of Social Responsibility
Key Highlights:

1. Strengthened service-learning, where students and faculty in the Freshman Service Education course integrate their learning with local resources for community service. 
2. Seven professional courses incorporated service-learning, with faculty and students forming volunteer teams to serve elementary and secondary schools, communities, and charitable organizations.
3. In response to the government’s call for “Youth-Senior Co-Creation,” collaborated with the Sanzhi and Wanli Digital Opportunity Centers and the Tamsui Indigenous Cultural Health Station to promote community care.
4. Continued involvement in the documentation, promotion, and practice of North Coast sports culture, providing children with safe and diverse opportunities for physical activity while enhancing local awareness of sports education.
5. Continued operation and management of the Tamsui Religious Network platform.

3. Domain Three: Industry–Academia Collaboration and Engagement
Key Highlights:

1. Promoted the “Senior–Youth Co-learning Future Classroom” experimental project, jointly designed by the Department of Applied Music, Department of International Business and Trade, and the General Education Center, creating a shared learning space for elderly learners and university students to foster intergenerational exchange, experiential sharing, and creative learning.
2. Collaborated with Tamsui District Office and Chunghwa Telecom to host seven North Coast Community Talent Training Workshops, advancing maker education and digital application skills while supporting digital equity and lifelong learning.
3. Over half of the academic departments offered industry internship courses.
4. The Department of Economics introduced three practice-oriented courses to strengthen industry linkage and resource integration.
5. Received one NSTC Undergraduate Research Grant, with a student presenting at an international conference at Mie University, Japan, and receiving the Best Outstanding Paper Award.
6. Established the ESG Smart Sustainability and Carbon Credit Trading Research Center and launched micro-courses to cultivate talent in sustainable development and carbon management.

4. Domain Four: Enhancing the Public Value of Higher Education
Key Highlights:

1. Completed the UCAN (University Career Anchor Network) assessment for first-year students and invited experts to conduct result interpretation sessions in the mandatory course“Aletheia Freshman Seminar."
2. Built a comprehensive support system for financially disadvantaged students through seven core programs (Professional Skill Tutoring, Career Counseling, Learning Motivation, Project Advising, Dream Fulfillment, Life-Care Support, and Alumni Scholarship) and a three-stage model (Competency Exploration, Motivated Learning, Professional Development). Indigenous students also receive support through collaboration with Indigenous Resource Centers and scholarship programs.
3. Held the Carbon Management Lecture & Workshop Series, inviting industry experts to share practical experiences and assist faculty in integrating ESG concepts into administrative and teaching practices.

5. Special Project – Internationalization Administrative Support System
Key Highlights:

1. Developed two Chinese-language MOOCs to enhance Mandarin proficiency among international students and help them better adapt to life in Taiwan.
2. Offered one-on-one personalized Chinese language courses.
3. Organized the Wu Dengyi Art Museum Bilingual Guided Tour Competition, showcasing international students’ interdisciplinary learning outcomes in art appreciation and language expression.
4. Organized the Oxford College Bilingual Guided Tour Competition to deepen international students’ understanding of Taiwanese history and culture.
5. Organized cultural experience activities featuring the Atayal Indigenous people for international students.