Yuan Ze University Won the National Corporate Environmental Protection Award Again, Setting a Higher Education Sustainability Model
Yuan Ze University once again demonstrated its strength in higher education sustainability. Following its recognition with the Bronze Award in the 6th National Corporate Environmental Protection Award last year, the university won the award again in the 7th edition, affirming its comprehensive achievements in energy conservation, carbon reduction, circular economy, educational innovation, and campus governance, and becoming an important model for higher education’s path toward sustainability.
Yuan Ze University had long regarded sustainable development as a core element of school affairs, requiring that all courses, research, and activities correspond to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, the College of Management’s Management course integrated SDGs and design thinking, guiding students to collaborate with enterprises by transforming “ugly produce” into specialty alcoholic beverages or using leftover steel materials to create supplies for stray animals, thereby putting circular economy concepts into real practice. In addition, the university established the Post-Bachelor Program in Net Zero, covering areas such as green technology, material recycling, and energy integration, to actively cultivate sustainability professionals.
In campus governance, Yuan Ze had introduced smart energy-saving measures such as “electricity supply only when classrooms were in use” more than a decade earlier, while also gradually replacing lighting with high-efficiency alternatives, adopting variable-frequency air conditioning, and installing renewable energy facilities. From 2022 to 2024, per capita electricity consumption dropped by 7%, showing remarkable energy-saving results. The university also completed greenhouse gas inventories and third-party verifications, obtained ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification, and institutionalized its energy governance. The installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and dormitory solar water heaters further showcased the diverse aspects of campus energy transition.
In terms of circular economy, Yuan Ze implemented green procurement policies and promoted activities such as second-hand markets and book-sharing shelves, allowing students to practice resource reuse in daily life. At the same time, the university assisted manufacturers in the Taoyuan Industrial Park with carbon inventories and energy management, helping local industries move toward low-carbon transformation and expanding its sustainable influence.
Sustainability culture also permeated the daily lives of faculty and students. Yuan Ze participated in the Net-Zero Green Living Alliance, promoting eco-friendly restaurants, green point rewards, and sustainable transportation. In 2024, the university introduced shared electric scooters to encourage low-carbon commuting. The campus also continued to host beach cleanups, environmental education events, and second-hand goods exchanges, making sustainability an integral part of its campus culture.
Thanks to years of effort, Yuan Ze University had previously received honors such as the Top Ten Sustainable Universities in Taiwan Award, the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Report Award (Silver), the Taiwan Sustainability Action Award, and the Global Views USR University Social Responsibility Award. Winning the National Corporate Environmental Protection Award once again symbolized the university’s continuous deepening of sustainability in education, campus governance, and industry collaboration, while taking concrete action to respond to the 2050 net-zero goal.
English Version：https://yznews.yzu.edu.tw/index.php/en-us/
