Hosted by the Taiwan Institute of Sustainable Energy (TAISE), the winners of the 2025 Taiwan University Sustainable Awards (TUSA) were announced on November 8. Tamkang University once again delivered an outstanding performance, receiving both the “Outstanding University Award for Comprehensive Sustainability Performance” and the “Innovative Growth Leadership Award” for individual sustainability achievement, demonstrating TKU’s strong capabilities in sustainability governance and digital transformation. The awards ceremony was held on November 26 at the Grand Hotel. Chief Sustainability Officer Prof. Ruey-Shiang Shaw and Chief Information Officer Prof. Kuei-Ping Shih attended the event, with Shaw accepting the award on behalf of the University from Administrative Deputy Minister of Education Chun-Chang Chu.
A total of 43 universities participated in this year’s awards, with 24 institutions competing in the comprehensive sustainability performance category. Prof. Shaw noted that TKU’s success stems from its long-term commitment to the university's development visions of “AI+SDGs=∞” and “ESG+AI=∞,” integrated with the educational philosophy of the Triple Objectives of Globalization, Information-oriented Education, and Future-oriented Education. Through sustained efforts in dual-track development and digital transformation, TKU has achieved significant results in international sustainability rankings, energy management, carbon accounting, and sound financial governance. Notable achievements include ranking 22nd globally in SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, as well as achieving a 15% energy-saving rate through its Energy Management System (EMS), which earned the Gold Benchmark Energy Conservation Award from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
“Sustainability is not a slogan; it is the result of long-term collective efforts by faculty, staff, and students,” Prof. Shaw emphasized. He stressed that Tamkang University does not pursue awards for their own sake, but values the role of credible external evaluations in identifying strengths and areas for improvement. “The real value lies in the process,” he added, noting that participation in such assessments encourages ongoing reflection on the depth and breadth of sustainability governance, while making TKU’s accumulated efforts visible across the campus community.
Regarding the Innovative Growth Leadership Award in the university governance category, Prof. Shih stated that the recognition affirms Tamkang University’s sustained commitment to promoting smart governance and data-driven decision-making. Since 2020, TKU has collaborated with Microsoft Taiwan to establish the nation’s first fully cloud-based smart campus. In 2022, it partnered with Far EasTone Telecommunications to upgrade to Smart Campus 2.0, integrating 5G agile communications and a Sustainable Campus Cloud. Leveraging tools such as Microsoft 365, TKU has enabled cross-departmental cloud collaboration and developed the country’s first AI personal digital assistant for universities, known as “TKU Copilot-AI Personal Digital Assistant.” The system offers features such as meeting summaries, which significantly improve efficiency and reduce administrative workload.
Prof. Shih further noted that during the Spring Feast in March, President Huan-Chao Keh announced Tamkang University’s advancement toward Smart Campus 3.0, focusing on four key areas: AI-driven cloud-based university governance, AI-led teaching innovation, Digital-twin energy management, and Smart and sustainable industry–academia collaboration. The University’s ultimate goal, Shih emphasized, is not only to create a smarter and more sustainable campus, but also to build a triple-win model that supports alumni enterprise growth, creates employment opportunities for students, and fulfills the university’s social responsibility, expanding the impact of sustainability in both depth and scope.
