Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) has launched its first University Social Responsibility (USR) partnership with a corporate group, joining forces with Zhen Ding Technology Group to advance place-based sustainability education in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Under a formal cooperation agreement, Zhen Ding contributed NT$500,000 to support CYCU’s irrigation and pond heritage initiative, bringing together academic expertise, corporate resources, and community needs. The collaboration represents a significant step in CYCU’s efforts to extend university social responsibility through industry partnerships and create lasting social value.
The initiative reflects a growing model of collaboration between universities and businesses, bringing together University Social Responsibility (USR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments. By extending its research and community engagement beyond campus, CYCU aims to translate academic knowledge into practical educational resources while supporting the protection of local cultural and environmental heritage.
Known as the “Land of a Thousand Ponds,” Taoyuan has a distinctive landscape shaped by centuries of irrigation development. Its ponds, waterways, and surrounding communities preserve a rich history of agricultural settlement, water management, biodiversity, and local culture.
Building on years of field research and interdisciplinary collaboration, CYCU’s USR team developed the Taoyuan Pond Education Handbook and the Discover Taoyuan Ponds mobile application. These resources help educators integrate local history, irrigation engineering, ecological conservation, and sustainability into classroom instruction and outdoor learning.
With support from Zhen Ding Technology Group, the project produced and distributed 500 copies of the handbook to schools and environmental education organizations across Taoyuan. The initiative provides teachers with accessible, locally grounded materials that connect academic research with everyday teaching.
As part of the partnership, CYCU completed eight educational activities, including teacher training workshops, student lectures, and field-based learning experiences. The program brought together 20 schools and environmental education organizations to explore ways of incorporating Taoyuan’s water heritage into sustainability education.
The activities combined cultural history, ecological observation, curriculum development, and creative expression. Participants explored the Dongshi–Xinjie River watershed in Pingzhen District and nearby communities, examining the connections between water resources, local traditions, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
Through experiential learning and interdisciplinary exchange, teachers gained practical approaches to transforming field observations into engaging educational activities. Students were encouraged to explore their local environment, ask questions, and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between people, water, and the places they inhabit.
Professor Chi-Peng Chen, principal investigator of CYCU’s irrigation and pond heritage USR project, has long promoted the concept of connecting “one pond, one school, and one community.” This approach recognizes ponds not only as water infrastructure and cultural assets but also as shared learning environments that bring education, ecology, and community participation together.
The partnership with Zhen Ding Technology Group has further strengthened this approach by supporting the transformation of local research into educational resources that can be used by schools and community organizations.
Educators participating in the program also highlighted its practical value. Huang Chen-Jung, an educator with a Taoyuan-based outdoor and marine education center, emphasized the opportunities to incorporate local cultural knowledge and field experiences into school curricula. Participants from other higher education institutions similarly recognized the importance of helping students learn about sustainability through direct engagement with their local environment.
Beyond individual workshops, the initiative established connections among universities, elementary and secondary schools, environmental education organizations, community groups, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
This collaborative network illustrates how higher education institutions can serve as platforms connecting academic knowledge, corporate sustainability commitments, and community participation.
For CYCU, the partnership marks an important milestone in expanding its USR initiatives beyond university-led community engagement toward a model of shared responsibility involving corporate partners.
For Zhen Ding Technology Group, the contribution represents a tangible investment in local sustainability education, demonstrating how corporate ESG commitments can extend beyond business operations to support schools, communities, and long-term social development.
Through this initiative, CYCU has established a collaborative framework connecting universities, industry, schools, communities, and NGOs. The university will continue to strengthen place-based environmental education, develop interdisciplinary teaching resources, and expand partnerships that support sustainable development.
By bringing together academic research, corporate engagement, and local knowledge, CYCU seeks to empower a new generation with the environmental awareness, community connections, and practical skills needed to contribute to a more sustainable future.
