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• Department : THUPR
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• Date : 2025-12-24

The 2025 CommonWealth Sustainable Citizen Award and University Social Responsibility (USR) University Citizen Award ceremony was recently held, where Tunghai University once again earned First Place among private universities, marking its second consecutive year as the top private institution in Taiwan. Tunghai is now ranked alongside National Taiwan University as one of the universities with the greatest sustainable impact nationwide.

Tunghai University once again ranked first among private universities in the CommonWealth University Citizenship Award. President Chang Kuo-En (right) received the award from Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Ho Chih-Wei (left).

President Kuo-En Chang of Tunghai University remarked that the award affirms Tunghai’s long-standing mission of advancing environmental sustainability through education. He noted that this year’s evaluation placed strong emphasis on university social responsibility; Tunghai’s AI education initiatives in rural areas over the past two years were key reasons the university stood out.

Now in its seventh year, the CommonWealth USR University Citizen Award is Taiwan’s most influential assessment of university social responsibility. This year’s ceremony was held at the Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei, with 111 higher education institutions participating. Schools were evaluated across four major dimensions: University Governance, Teaching Commitment, Social Engagement, and Environmental Sustainability.

Tunghai excelled particularly in Environmental Sustainability, receiving a perfect score in the Sustainability Peer Review and standing out in the newly added Sustainable Projects category for its innovative initiatives. These achievements demonstrate that “the educational field can be as progressive as the corporate world,” reflecting Tunghai’s commitment to shared learning and collective well-being as the core of its social value.

CommonWealth Magazine Co-CEO Wan-Yu Wu noted that in the era of ESG 2.0, both enterprises and universities must generate Net Positive societal impact through deeper, transformative sustainability actions. Tunghai’s long-term, concrete efforts have made it a model for sustainable development in Taiwan’s higher education sector—earning it the top honor.

President Chang personally attended the ceremony to receive the award, expressing gratitude for the recognition from the judges and the public. With his characteristic humor, he said, “Thank you to CommonWealth Magazine for giving us this opportunity to showcase our results—you made the right choice!”

He added that this honor is not only a recognition but also a mirror, reminding universities to continuously engage in self-reflection and improvement in pursuit of their mission to advance social sustainability through education.
“The value of education lies not in competition, but in shared flourishing. Only when education becomes a force for collective learning can society truly move toward sustainability.”
Vice President Cheng Liu and Director of the Office of Sustainability He-Wen Chen also attended the ceremony to celebrate this milestone.

President Chang Kuo-En personally attended the ceremony and emphasized, “The value of education lies not in competition, but in collective good. Only when education becomes a force for shared learning can society truly move toward sustainability.”

President Chang emphasized that Tunghai is a university where humanities, AI, and sustainability intersect. The campus is home to fireflies and micro-forests; students participate directly in environmental conservation and community engagement through Tunghai’s signature labor education program, embodying an education that transforms learning into action.

Tunghai’s sustainability efforts advance along both environmental and social dimensions, balancing innovation with humanistic concern. Environmentally, the university collaborated with Formosa Smart Energy Tech Corporation to install solar panels and developed Asia’s largest 4.3-hectare Intelligent Carbon-Neutral Research Park, powered by unique microalgae carbon-capture technology, capable of absorbing nearly 2,000 tons of CO₂ annually—contributing practical solutions to industry while advancing the 2050 net-zero goal.

Tunghai also leads the Central Taiwan Tree Bank Project, integrating academic and administrative resources to restore native species, update forest ecosystems, and promote biodiversity conservation and environmental education.

In terms of USR, Tunghai promotes the “Tunghai Einstein: AI to Rural Areas” initiative and the AI Superhero Camp, where teachers and students work in a “hand-in-hand” model to support rural schoolchildren in developing digital and scientific literacy. These programs help bridge the digital divide and empower local communities through education. The initiatives have already taken root in many schools across Central Taiwan and will continue expanding through partnerships with local governments, reflecting Tunghai’s mission to change society through education.

With AI+Humanities education as its core and sustainability as its guiding principle, Tunghai continues to lead in both international rankings and social impact. According to the 2026 QS Asia University Rankings, Tunghai ranks 228th in Asia, 15th in Taiwan, and 1st among private non-medical universities; it also entered the global top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Winning the top private university honor again in the USR University Citizen Award not only represents recognition but also symbolizes Tunghai’s continued transformation as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. President Chang affirmed that Tunghai will continue to leverage the power of education for good, advancing sustainability and shared flourishing—becoming a leading model of action and social impact in higher education.

Tunghai University will continue to promote sustainability and the common good through the positive power of education. Pictured are Vice President Liu Cheng (right) and Director of the Sustainability Office Chen Ho-Wen (left) at the ceremony.

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