National Cheng Kung University received the 2020 National Sustainable Development Award on November 25th at an award ceremony in the Executive Yuan. Three schools were conferred this award in the education category, including National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), China Medical University, and Mingdao High School (Taichung). NCKU has demonstrated in recent years excellence in promoting the localization of sustainable development and its integration with daily living by substantively achieving the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through cross-disciplinary collaborations, NCKU was able to establish a campus sustainability consensus. NCKU leads the nation’s universities as being the first to champion the United Nation’s SDGs.

In 2015, the United Nations member states adopted the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, leading the world with its vision for the future. In the vein of sustainable development thinking and with the view of achieving NCKU’s 2030 vision for educational research, NCKU took the initiative in elevating NCKU’s global impact by establishing the Signature Program of Sustainable Development (SPSD), achieving consensus on campus, and expanding applications of resources.

In the University’s integration of its SDG strategies and its promotion of the NCKU 2030 educational research strategies, NCKU has put forward its 5 strategic P’s of sustainable development: advancing the welfare of people, designing inclusively and collaboratively a sustainable planet, innovating and making breakthroughs to accelerate growth in prosperity, respecting diversity and furthering peace, and crossing over and integrating across disciplines in flourishing partnerships. The president of NCKU Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su stated that the NCKU 2030 vision for sustainable development is the cornerstone in bringing about sustainable development solutions in accommodating and meeting various localized needs, thereby fulfilling NKCU’s value of leaving no one behind.

NCKU has incorporated SDGs in its academic development plan. The University launched its NCKU 2030 website to realize sustainable development goals and offer solutions. The University is also the first in the country to join the SDG Accord as an educational institution. In 2019, CommonWealth Magazine ran a University Citizen Rankings (USR) survey, ranking 153 universities for their level of social responsibility across three dimensions, which are university governance, learning environment, and social engagement. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) was ranked at the top of the list. In 2020 British Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, NCKU was ranked 1st in the country, 2nd in Asia, and 38th in the world. Among 17 of the UN SDGs, NCKU was ranked in the top 100 for 11 SDGs and in the top 20 for three SDGs.

The Executive Yuan’s National Sustainable Development Network commends excellence in sustainable development performance. Since 2004, the Council has been conferring annually Sustainable Development Awards. This year marks the 17th year. The entire evaluation process takes place over three rounds: first round of document evaluation, second round of site visits, and the final round during which the Jury finalizes the list of winners. The Council selects schools, businesses, civic organizations, and government agencies that have demonstrated excellence in sustainable development in order to encourage the public to become active in furthering the work of realizing the country’s sustainable development vision.