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)