SU Presents Award-Winning SDGs Projects, Introduces Local Attractions

Soochow University proudly showed its two winning projects that fulfilled university social responsibility (USR) and UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) with an exhibition at the school’s history showroom, SU Memory Archives, while making recommendations on some local scenic spots and agricultural products.

In the opening tea party on December 7^th, 2021, Taipei Deputy Mayor Shan-Shan Huang gave compliments and thanks to Soochow for its dedication to reviving Shilin district, which set a great example of all-win efforts among education institutes, local communities and government agencies.

Earlier in October, Soochow was awarded silver and bronze honors in the 2021 Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards (TSAA) with two USR projects: “New Symbiosis of Old Shilin District” by Department of Social Work, and “Agricultural Tourism Assistance Program in Tianzhong Township, Changhua County” by School of Business.

The former provided various strategies to help decrease the speed of rapid social and spatial vicissitudes, and eased the maladjustment among senior citizens at the Fujia, Zoumei, and Fuhua villages in Shilin District.

Thanks to the support and guidance from the latter, eleven agriculture tourism providers in Tianzhong, Changhua County, are now able to combine their original agritourism and specialty products with local attractions and thus provide different routes that meet sightseeing needs all year round.

“What most Taiwanese farmers lack is the marketing strategy,” said Jun-Fu Yu, the owner of a pitaya (dragon fruit) farm. “We are good at growing fruits, but know very little about how to make profits out of it.” With the help from Soochow’s USR team, the farm gradually launched multiple fruit related products, and even designed tours that offer fruit-picking and do-it-yourself experiences.

SU President Wei-Ta Pan noted that this is just the beginning of more collaboration with local communities, and that Soochow University wants to be a good neighbor that shoulder its social responsibility and promote sustainable development.

In the exhibition, a jaunt route that combines nature, aesthetics, and culture has also been recommended, with various scenic spots around Shilin and Beitou districts, including Indigenous People’s Park, The Lin Yutang House, Chien Mu House, Sanwong Temple, and Quyuan Temple.