National Chung Cheng University, Dalin Tzu Chi, and Nanhua University join hands to realize the sustainable development goals of the United Nations
Mar 22, 2023
Faced with the continuous ferment of global sustainable development issues, National Chung Cheng University, Nanhua University, and Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, a Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 21st, pledging their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), University Social Responsibility (USR), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Economic, Social, and Governance (ESG). In the future, the three parties will collaborate to promote academic and practical cooperation projects in medical care, law, environment, and education, ushering in a new era of sustainable development in Chiayi.
Amidst severe climate change, limited environmental resources, and health crises, countries worldwide have raised awareness of sustainable development, and the United Nations has formulated 17 sustainable development goals. In recent years, both Chung Cheng University and Nanhua University have excelled in the Taiwan Sustainability Awards, while Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital has made significant progress in implementing energy conservation, carbon reduction, and health promotion initiatives, evolving from a green hospital to incorporating sustainable practices into daily life. Today, witnessed by the three distinguished guests, Feng Zhanhua, President of Chung Cheng University, Lin Congming, President of Nanhua University, and Lai Ningsheng, President of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, signed the cooperation memorandum, affirming their commitment to community well-being.
Feng Zhanhua remarked, "Tzu Chi Hospital's local services are always at the forefront. For example, Cao Wenlong, director of the Dementia Center, leads in-home care, with many community activities at the university following suit." He highlighted that the school possesses living laboratories and planning and research facilities, making Dalin Tzu Chi the ideal partner for design collaborations. This partnership can serve as a reference for future academic research models and facilitate the development of innovative lifestyles.
Lin Congming shared that Nanhua University has integrated the United Nations' 17 indicators of sustainable development into its curriculum, propelling it into the top 400 of global world university rankings. In terms of USR, Nanhua University has received the Model Award from Vision Magazine for the past two years. He expects the three parties to leverage their respective strengths, integrate efforts, enhance community service, promote environmental sustainability, and garner global recognition for their initiatives. Lai Ningsheng emphasized that sustainable development has always been Dalin Tzu Chi's goal. Through this collaboration, the academic theories of universities can be verified through hospital practices, enabling clinical units to discuss and resolve issues they face within the framework of SDGs, which is of historical significance.
Furthermore, about the SDGs indicator "good health and well-being," Shi Huiling, Director of the Taiwan Legal Information Center and Professor in the Department of Law at National Chung Cheng University, and Cao Wenlong, Director of the Dementia Center at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, signed an MOU for the Human Rights Clinic of the Elderly. This MOU will establish links with relevant medical service departments for the elderly, such as the Dalin Tzu Chi Dementia Center, the Department of Family Medicine, the Department of Geriatrics, the Department of Nursing, and the Department of Community Medicine, as well as the Zhongzheng Taiwan Legal Information Center and the Social Responsibility Practice Office, facilitating community service and providing one-stop medical and legal home services to local communities.
Cao Wenlong emphasized that caring for dementia entails combining medical treatment and legal considerations, as it involves not only the family but also the broader community. Students, when engaging in community medical care, can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by dementia-affected families and be freed from rigid legal provisions. Shi Huiling pointed out that the mutual exchange of diverse resources can produce a synergistic effect of "1+1>3," strengthening the relationship between the three parties through the MOU. She further noted that cooperating with the Human Rights Clinic for the Elderly offers students the invaluable opportunity to learn from Tzu Chi's spirit and Director Cao's practical experience, teaching them to face life with sincerity. Classroom teachings are limited to academic terms, but this collaboration provides students with deeper insights into the value of life and the exploration of health and well-being.