Spotlight
NCYU and Kagawa University Advance Taiwan–Japan Agricultural Higher Education Partnership through a Cross-Border Double-Degree Framework
On December 10, 2025, the College of Agriculture at National Chiayi University (NCYU) and the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University held a signing ceremony for the “Master’s Double-Degree Cooperation Agreement,” marking a significant milestone that further deepens and expands their international partnership in higher education. Since becoming sister institutions in 2013, NCYU and Kagawa University have continuously strengthened exchanges in student exchange programs, short-term courses, academic research, and tripartite forums, gradually building a solid network for cross-border educational collaboration. In recognition of the strong traditions and remarkable research achievements of the College of Agriculture at NCYU and the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University in agricultural sciences, the College of Agriculture at NCYU proactively proposed a master’s double-degree initiative in 2024. After nearly two years of reciprocal visits, bilateral consultations, and administrative coordination, NCYU President Han-Chien Lin and Kagawa University President Natsuo Ueda jointly signed a university-level cooperation framework on November 19, 2025. The agreement laid the formal groundwork for the official launch of the college-level double-degree program. The signing ceremony was conducted via video conference, during which Prof. Masahiro Ogawa, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University, noted that deep mutual ties have been fostered between the two institutions through long-standing exchanges. The launch of the double-degree program marks a major milestone that will enhance students’ intercultural competence as well as their international mobility and professional competitiveness. Prof. Shen Rong-Show, Dean of the College of Agriculture at NCYU, noted that amid rapid global changes, international partnerships and cultural exchanges among universities are central to addressing emerging challenges, and expressed hope that the double-degree program will open broader international academic horizons for students from both institutions. One of the key advocates of this initiative, Prof. Peter Lutes of Kagawa University’s Faculty of Agriculture, personally led two students interested in applying for the double-degree program to Taiwan to attend the ceremony, and voiced his expectation of seeing more students from both institutions pursue cross-border studies in the future. Cheng-Cheng Yang, Dean of the Office of International Affairs at NCYU, stated that since the sister-university agreement was established, NCYU has recommended approximately 20 students for exchange study at Kagawa University. He added that the launch of the double-degree program further demonstrates NCYU’s tangible progress in advancing its “One Department, One College, One Internationalization” initiative. Under the double-degree framework, students from both institutions are expected to share deeper international learning resources, further strengthening youth exchange and cooperation between Taiwan and Japan. Photo 1: The College of Agriculture at NCYU and the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University held a video conference signing ceremony for the double-degree cooperation agreement on December 10. Photo 2: Prof. Masahiro Ogawa (center), Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University, signs the double-degree cooperation agreement on behalf of the college. Photo 3: Group photo of NCYU representatives and the visiting delegation from Kagawa University’s Faculty of Agriculture (Photo courtesy of the Office of International Affairs) Photo 4: Group photo of faculty members from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University and the College of Agriculture at NCYU attending the signing ceremony.
2026.01.13
NCYU Unveils Achievements in Sustainable Campus Development and Interdisciplinary Innovation
National Chiayi University (NCYU) President Han-Chien Lin and Vice President Ruey-Shyang Chen recently participated in the recording of the “Global Views On Air” podcast, where they shared how NCYU has adopted the philosophy of “Virtuous Educators and Abundant Harvests” as the core of its governance. Spanning smart agriculture, circular economy, energy conservation, carbon reduction, and community co-prosperity, the discussion highlighted NCYU’s sustainability blueprint and implementation efforts, underscoring its long-term commitment to sustainable development across education, agriculture, technology, and regional engagement. Building a Sustainability Governance DNA Rooted in “Virtuous Educators and Abundant Harvests” President Han-Chien Lin noted that NCYU, marking the 25th anniversary of its consolidation, has established a solid foundation in both teacher education and agricultural research. More than a comprehensive university with a strong teacher-training tradition, NCYU builds on its strengths in agriculture and life sciences, integrating expertise in engineering and management to develop a sustainable strategy spanning campuses, mountain regions, coastal areas, and rural communities. From rural education and local agroforestry partnerships to marine aquaculture, NCYU provides cross-disciplinary support, demonstrating the public mission and social responsibility of a regionally rooted university. From Field to Table: Smart Agriculture × AI × Biofertilizers NCYU has long pioneered smart agriculture, drawing on AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, and drone technologies to assist farmers with soil monitoring, precision fertilization, early warning of pests and diseases, and yield forecasting. The goal is to shift farming from experience-based practices to data-driven, technology-enabled approaches that boost productivity and resilience. NCYU has received multiple awards for its research and development of biofertilizers. It has successfully integrated the research capabilities of the College of Agriculture and the College of Life Sciences into agricultural practice, enabling farmers to adopt more sustainable and efficient cultivation methods. From Agricultural Extraction to Green Manufacturing: Building Sustainable Industrial Chains Building on agricultural products and Chinese herbal medicines, NCYU has developed precision and green extraction systems that transform agricultural residues into high value-added products, including foods, health supplements, medical applications, and daily-use goods. This approach not only strengthens the “field-to-table” connection, but also transforms agricultural waste into reusable and recyclable resources. Vice President Chen noted that the circular economy has become a globally recognized approach. Drawing on its strengths in agriculture, NCYU has taken on the task of advancing the reuse of post-production residues, enabling resources to be used beyond a single cycle and to generate greater added value. Campus Energy Efficiency, Net-Zero Transition, and Local Governance: Comprehensive Sustainability Actions Underway NCYU connects factories, small-scale farmers, and processors across Chiayi, Yunlin, and Tainan through IoT-enabled platforms, establishing an integrated chain spanning farming, processing, product development, and marketing. This initiative supports local industrial upgrading while assisting enterprises with ESG implementation and carbon accounting. NCYU is also moving forward with plans to establish its eighth college, the College of Medicine, with a strong emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine, to build an integrated healthcare and wellness system that encompasses medical care and health promotion. In sustainability governance, NCYU has implemented a range of energy-saving and net-zero measures, including energy-efficiency retrofits of aging buildings, the deployment of smart energy management systems, and the establishment of green hydrogen demonstration stations. These actions have successfully increased energy self-sufficiency from 9% to 25%, showcasing tangible progress in the campus’s net-zero transition. Meanwhile, NCYU has long engaged with local communities by promoting environmental education, regional revitalization, and ecological conservation, working with residents to co-create sustainable living spaces in line with its commitment to university social responsibility. NCYU will continue to integrate internal and external resources and further strengthen efforts in smart agriculture, circular economy, and net-zero action, supporting sustainable development in the Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan region and across Taiwan’s higher education sector. Photo 1: Group photo of Bright Lee (left), Editor-in-Chief of Global Views Monthly; Han-Chien Lin (center), President of NCYU; and Ruey-Shyang Chen (right), Vice President of NCYU. (Photo courtesy of Global Views ESG Alliance) Photo 2: NCYU was featured on Global Views On Air, offering a comprehensive overview of its achievements in sustainable campus development and cross-disciplinary innovation. (Photo courtesy of Global Views ESG Alliance)
2026.01.12
Sustainability Governance at the Core: NCYU Steadily Climbs to No. 125 in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings
In the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, National Chiayi University (NCYU) ranked No. 125 worldwide, rising from No. 187 in 2024. The achievement underscores NCYU’s continued international recognition for its overall performance in sustainable campus governance, environmental management, and sustainability education. The UI GreenMetric ranking, hosted by Universitas Indonesia, is one of the world’s largest sustainability assessments for university campuses. According to the official UI GreenMetric 2025 Fact File, this year’s assessment involved 1,745 universities from 105 countries. The evaluation framework covers six categories: Setting & Infrastructure, Energy & Climate Change, Water, Waste, Transportation, and Education & Research. It emphasizes the consistency and verifiability of institutional frameworks, on-the-ground actions, and supporting documentation. NCYU earned a total score of 8,462.5 out of 10,000, achieving an overall performance of 84.63%. Scores by category are as follows: Setting & Infrastructure: 1,275 / 1,500 Water: 937.5 / 1,000 Energy & Climate Change: 1,550 / 2,100 Transportation: 1,625 / 1,800 Waste: 1,550 / 1,800 Education & Research: 1,525 / 1,800 With university governance as its longstanding core, NCYU has integrated resources across the Center for Environmental Protection and Safety Management, the Office of University Social Responsibility Project, and various colleges to advance sustainability initiatives simultaneously at the institutional, operational, and educational levels. Through data-driven management and regular reviews, NCYU continues to strengthen campus energy management, water recycling and reuse, waste reduction, and the capacity of sustainability-related courses and research. This significant improvement in the ranking demonstrates not only NCYU’s accumulated achievements in building a sustainable campus, but also its tangible contributions to global climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Looking ahead, NCYU will continue to deepen its sustainability governance framework, strengthen cross-unit collaboration and data quality management, and steadily advance its campus net-zero transition, moving toward a more resilient and responsible sustainable university. Photo 1: NCYU climbed to No. 125 worldwide in the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Photo 2: NCYU’s UI GreenMetric ranking has improved significantly year by year.
2026.01.08
Transcending Language and Culture: NCYU Team Invited to FIG Bilbao to Showcase Taiwanese Printmaking on the Global Stage
One of Spain’s premier printmaking events, the International Printmaking and Paper Art Festival (FIG Bilbao), was held from November 27 to 30 at the Palacio Euskalduna Bilbao. This year’s festival spotlighted creative energy from Asia, inviting several Taiwanese artists to participate. Among them, the team from the Department of Visual Arts, National Chiayi University (NCYU) stood out prominently. The team, comprising Prof. Hsieh Chi-Chang, Assistant Prof. Chang Chingyu, and four emerging alumni – Lin Ting-Hsun, Chen Hsin, Chu Fang-Ying, and Yu Chih-Yu – presented in one of the festival’s flagship programs, "The Cubes of Temptations." Through cross-cultural dialogue with young artists from Spain’s Basque region, along with exhibitions, sharing of techniques, and interactive sessions, they jointly explored new possibilities for extending printmaking within contemporary art. During their studies, the four alumni honed their skills in printmaking, paper-based media, and interdisciplinary creation, building a robust artistic vocabulary. Standing on the international stage, these young Taiwanese artists, fluent in English and confident in their artistic vision, clearly conveyed their creative concepts to a professional audience, showcasing their professionalism and maturity. Assistant Prof. Chang Chingyu expressed gratitude to the National Culture and Arts Foundation for its support, which enabled emerging creators to engage internationally and communicate with audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds, thereby enhancing the visibility of Taiwanese printmaking within the global art network. During the exhibition, international audiences highly praised the works of these young Taiwanese artists, recognizing their nuanced cultural expression and keen observational insight. These qualities reveal the depth of Taiwan’s local culture, as well as its strong potential to engage with the global art scene. The artists also engaged in exchanges with students in the Basque region, sharing their creative journeys, approaches to paper as a medium, and the layered vocabulary of printmaking, highlighting the new generation’s agility in cross-cultural understanding and international artistic discourse. Alumna Chen Hsin achieved double honors at this exhibition, receiving both the Emerging Artist Grant and a two-month residency scholarship at the International Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Betanzos, Galicia, Spain. Her achievements exemplify the Department of Visual Arts at NCYU and its long-standing commitment to creative practice, technical refinement, and international mobility. They also bear witness to how Taiwan’s artistic vitality continues to shine on the global stage. Photo 1: Faculty and students from NCYU’s Department of Visual Arts at FIG Bilbao, highlighting the international visibility of Taiwanese printmaking. Photo 2: Artwork by Chen Hsin, alumna of the Department of Visual Arts, NCYU. Photo 3: Group photo of NCYU faculty and alumni in front of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (from left to right: Assistant Prof. Chang Chingyu, alumni Lin Ting-Hsun, Chen Hsin, Chu Fang-Ying, and Yu Chih-Yu).
2025.12.16
NCYU Pioneers Sustainable Agriculture Through Smart Innovation Amid Food Security Challenges at BioSFE 2025
To strengthen international research collaboration and foster New Southbound partnerships, National Chiayi University (NCYU), together with the Biotechnology and Health Care Association of Taiwan, hosted the 2nd International Conference on Biotechnology, Smart Farming and Entrepreneurship for Food Security (BioSFE 2025). The symposium opened on the morning of October 30 at the International Networking Academy on NCYU’s Lantan Campus. Symposium sessions were held from October 30 to 31, followed by a field visit to Chiayi Dapumei Intelligent Industrial Park on November 1. The event boasted a vibrant international atmosphere, attracting nearly 200 participants, including scholars, industry experts, and university students from Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. In his remarks, NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that since its debut in Malaysia in 2023, BioSFE has become a vital platform for cross-border academic and industrial exchange. In the face of food security challenges amid climate change, resource depletion, and geopolitical impacts, NCYU is actively advancing New Southbound collaborations. With joint efforts from the College of Life Sciences and the College of Agriculture, NCYU works closely with industry partners and international academic institutions to explore innovations in biotechnology, smart agriculture applications, and food safety entrepreneurship. He stressed that international collaboration plays a key role in deepening scientific research exchange and facilitating sustainable agriculture practices both globally and locally. During the opening ceremony, NCYU Vice President Ruey-Shyang Chen and Prof. Dr. Firdaus Abdullah, Rector of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Branch, Malaysia, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Witnessed by NCYU President Han-Chien Lin and Lai Ming-Tao, Chairman of the Biotechnology and Health Care Association of Taiwan, the signing marked an important milestone in bilateral research collaboration. This year’s symposium invited three distinguished keynote speakers. Mr. Ching-Kuan Lin, President of Challenge Bioproducts Co., Ltd., delivered the talk “Innovative Strategies in Bioprocessing for Sustainable Food Security and Safety.” Prof. Jason Yi-Bing Lin, Lifetime Chair Professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, presented “AgriTalk – Smart Farming Based on AI and IoT.” Prof. Dr. Firdaus Abdullah discussed “Farming for Tomorrow: Building Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems,” outlining future pathways for resilient and sustainable food systems. A student poster abstract competition was also held, attracting nearly 40 submissions from young scholars across universities and colleges, highlighting innovative research results and global perspectives. Awards were presented on the second day, concluding the event on a high note. Photo 1: Faculty members posed for a group photo after the signing of an MOA between NCYU and UiTM Sarawak Branch. Photo 2: Group photo of participants at BioSFE 2025. Photo 3: Prof. Dr. Firdaus Abdullah, Rector of UiTM Sarawak Branch, signed the agreement on behalf of the institution. Photo 4: Prof. Dr. Firdaus Abdullah spoke on “Farming for Tomorrow: Building Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems,” exploring the future of climate resilience and sustainable food systems.
2025.12.02
NCYU’s Net-Zero Livestock Technology Wins the 2025 Future Tech Award for Ready-to-Deploy On-Farm Applications
A cross-disciplinary research team led by Prof. Chen Kuo-Long of the Department of Animal Science at National Chiayi University (NCYU) received the 2025 Future Tech Award. The team was recognized for its precision fermentation technology featuring net-zero carbon reduction, antibiotic-free animal production, and high-value conversion of agricultural waste. The award ceremony was held on October 18 at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Hall 1, with Cheng-Wen Wu, Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), presenting the award. The technology has completed field validation and is ready for immediate deployment on Taiwanese livestock farms, paving the way for a new era of antibiotic-free, low-carbon animal husbandry. The award-winning technology, “Improving Chicken Production Efficiency: ‘Reducing Carbon Footprint’,” was led by Prof. Chen and brought together faculty experts from NCYU’s College of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, and College of Science and Engineering. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, and Chiaho Agricultural Science Co., Ltd. Core team members include Associate Prof. Chia-Wen Hsieh, Associate Prof. Chia-Li Wei, doctoral student Yaling Hsiao, Prof. Gu Guo-Long, Prof. Bor-Chun Weng, Prof. Chishih Chu, Dr. Yueh-Sheng Lee, Dr. Zong-Yu Li, and Dr. Hung Ching-Chi, forming an integrated team that links academic research with industry practice. From October 16 to 18, the research team participated in the Taiwan Innotech Expo, setting up a technology showcase booth at TWTC Hall 1, which attracted collaboration inquiries from domestic feed manufacturers and major livestock operators. Manufacturers and operators noted that the technology not only shows strong potential to replace imported fishmeal but also meets increasingly stringent antibiotic-free production standards, describing it as “one of the few solutions that have genuinely moved beyond the laboratory stage.” Highlights of the “Improving Chicken Production Efficiency: ‘Reducing Carbon Footprint’” technology include: (1) converting agricultural by-products such as soybean hulls, wheat bran, and mushroom substrate into high-efficiency feed additives; (2) a proven ability to replace both fishmeal and antibiotics, increasing broiler production efficiency by up to 12%; and (3) achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 with ton-scale production line validation, enabling immediate implementation in Taiwanese livestock farms. The NCYU research team stated that, based on practical needs gathered from exhibitions and exchanges at the Taiwan Innotech Expo, they will launch the next phase, which will focus on establishing a “field implementation assessment and pilot collaboration mechanism” tailored to different livestock farm types. Beginning with local demonstration sites, they aim to accelerate Taiwan’s sustainable transition toward antibiotic-free, low-carbon, and circular resource use in livestock farming. Photo 1: Prof. Chen Kuo-Long (4th from right), Prof. Gu Guo-Long (3rd from right), Prof. Bor-Chun Weng (1st from right), Prof. Chishih Chu (4th from left), Associate Prof. Chia-Li Wei (2nd from left), and other team members received the 2025 Future Tech Award. Photo 2: The NCYU interdisciplinary team leads Taiwan’s transition toward antibiotic-free, low-carbon animal husbandry. Photo 3: The NCYU team presented its innovative technology ready for immediate use on livestock farms at the Taiwan Innotech Expo. Photo 4: NCYU’s net-zero livestock innovation attracted collaboration inquiries from domestic feed manufacturers and major livestock operators.
2025.12.01
