Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
Sustainable Development Goals
Content
NTHU Collaboration with NGOs to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals
THE Impact Rankings 17.2.5 — Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
1. Institutional Commitment to NGO Partnerships for Sustainable Development
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) collaborates with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofit foundations, humanitarian organizations, and community groups to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through student volunteering, collaborative research, and educational resource development, NTHU engages in digital education, educational inclusion, watershed conservation, environmental learning, light pollution prevention, and international humanitarian law education.
NTHU recognizes the expertise, community relationships, and practical experience developed by civil society organizations. By combining these resources with university research and student participation, the partnerships connect academic knowledge with community needs and public education.
During 2025–2026, the university continued building partnerships with domestic and international organizations through three forms of engagement:
- Student volunteering programmes supporting international education, environmental action, and community learning.
- Research cooperation connecting academic expertise with NGO experience in sustainability challenges.
- Educational resource development through learning materials, field guides, workshops, and structured educational programmes.
The following sections distinguish documented activities from research outputs and educational materials that require further verification.
2. International Volunteering and Digital Education
2.1 NTHU International Volunteers and the ASUS Foundation in 2025
In 2025, NTHU's International Volunteer Group, supported by the Division of Student Activities of the Office of Student Affairs, collaborated with the ASUS Foundation on international digital education initiatives.
The partnerships involved student volunteer teams working on projects associated with Tanzania, Eswatini, Kenya, and Mozambique.
According to the Office of Student Affairs' submission, the initiatives involved supporting computer classrooms, donating information technology equipment, and improving opportunities for students to access digital learning resources.
Access to computers and appropriate digital learning environments can be an important component of educational opportunity, particularly in underserved communities.
By combining university student participation with resources from a nonprofit foundation, the initiatives sought to address barriers to digital education.
2.2 Integrating University Volunteers and Nonprofit Resources
NTHU contributed student volunteers and international service activities, while the ASUS Foundation provided resources and support related to digital education.
The collaboration connected student learning and service with the educational needs of partner schools.
Through international volunteering, participating students gained opportunities to develop intercultural communication, teamwork, and practical problem-solving skills.
The cooperation demonstrates both student volunteering and support for educational resources.
2.3 Contributions to the SDGs
These projects relate to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The achievements should be reported according to the actual records of each volunteer team, distinguishing completed equipment donations and classroom installations from preparatory activities.
Supporting Evidence
NTHU 2025 International Volunteer Achievements:
https://internationalvolunteer.nthudsa.com/pdf/2025
Recommended supporting materials include student service photographs, computer classroom records, equipment donation documents, and identification of the participating foundation.
THE Categories: Student volunteering programmes; Development of educational resources.
Relevant SDGs: 4, 10, and 17.
3. Watershed Conservation and Community Environmental Education
3.1 Collaboration with Environmental NGOs in 2025
In 2025, NTHU's Touqian River research team collaborated with local environmental and community education partners, including the Taiwan Clean Water Action Alliance, the Society of Wilderness, and Zhuchian Community College.
The partnerships combined university research, student fieldwork, environmental advocacy, ecological education, and local historical knowledge.
The Taiwan Clean Water Action Alliance shared experience concerning drinking-water protection, environmental advocacy, and public participation in policy discussions.
The Society of Wilderness contributed perspectives on river litter, ecology, and environmental learning, helping connect scientific research approaches with field conditions.
Zhuchian Community College supported connections among lifelong learning, local history, watershed interpretation, and community participation.
Through cooperation with partners offering different forms of expertise, students were able to examine water-resource challenges from scientific, social, cultural, and civic perspectives.
3.2 Student Fieldwork and Community Knowledge
NTHU students participated in gathering local historical materials, interviewing residents and community elders, preparing interpretation scripts, and discussing environmental issues.
These activities went beyond assisting with event logistics.
Students helped document local knowledge and transform research findings and field experiences into educational content suitable for wider audiences.
Working with NGO and community partners enabled students to consider how scientific information, local experience, and public participation complement one another.
The activities provided opportunities for experiential learning and community-oriented volunteering.
3.3 Zhudong Watershed Walks and Educational Materials
In 2025, the research team developed educational materials for walking routes in Zhudong.
The materials brought together information about the Zhongxing watercourse, the Zhudong irrigation canal, surrounding settlements, and local historical development.
Through historical research, interviews, and field observations, the team prepared interpretation content connecting local water infrastructure with community memories and environmental change.
These materials could be reused in university courses, guided community walks, and local educational activities.
The work demonstrates how research and place-based knowledge can be translated into accessible learning resources.
3.4 Estuary Environmental Learning
The project also included environmental learning activities associated with Jiugang Island and the river estuary.
Community partners introduced participants to estuary ecosystems, local environmental change, and river conservation work.
Through field-based engagement, university students and community participants could connect environmental research with local practices and conservation concerns.
3.5 Documented Results and Scope of NGO Collaboration
The documented 2025 activities included student fieldwork, community interviews, environmental learning, watershed walks, and reusable interpretation materials.
NTHU contributed research methods, student participation, and educational preparation, while NGOs and community partners offered ecological knowledge, local relationships, and place-based experience.
These activities provide direct evidence of student participation and educational resource development.
The available records do not clearly establish a separately constituted joint NGO research programme. Consequently, these activities are not presented as completed collaborative NGO research without additional documentation.
Supporting Evidence
NTHU Touqian River Research and Community Engagement Project Report, 2025:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M1kObgkbzlzjTB4JfUalZNvKgp0bZHVA/view
NTHU USR Project Annual Report, 2025:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i8rv_lD3svXestG2mkSkY5XpRC8bEYFi/view
Recommended visual evidence includes the Zhongxing watercourse and Zhudong irrigation canal interpretation materials, fieldwork photographs, and estuary learning activities.
THE Categories: Student volunteering programmes; Development of educational resources.
Relevant SDGs: 4, 6, 11, and 17.
4. Educational Inclusion through a Nonprofit Foundation
4.1 Partnership with the Huang Lieh-Huo Social Welfare Foundation
NTHU's Office of Global Affairs has reported cooperation with the Huang Lieh-Huo Social Welfare Foundation and local schools to support language-learning opportunities for students with relatively limited educational resources.
Through the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program, international scholarship recipients participate in volunteer language instruction and cross-cultural educational activities.
The initiative connects university internationalization resources with community education and nonprofit involvement.
The educational activities aim to provide children with opportunities to engage with different languages and cultures.
4.2 Language Learning and Cross-cultural Educational Resources
International students participate in language-learning activities, educational interaction, and cultural sharing.
These services provide opportunities to enhance language-learning motivation and introduce students to intercultural experiences.
The collaboration supports SDG 4 and SDG 10, while the partnership among the university, foundation, and schools contributes to SDG 17.
4.3 Educational Activities at Local Schools
NTHU's international students have also participated in language-learning activities at schools such as Hulin Elementary School in Hsinchu.
According to information supplied by the Office of Global Affairs, these activities include educational support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
However, the precise division of responsibilities between the Huang Lieh-Huo Social Welfare Foundation and individual schools requires additional documentation.
Photographs showing school-based language activities alone should not be used as proof that the foundation directly participated in each specific activity.
Supporting Evidence
NTHU international students' English teaching activities at local schools:
Source: NTHU Office of Global Affairs' submission on educational NGO cooperation.
Recommended documentation: Foundation cooperation records, participating school lists, volunteer service schedules, and evidence identifying the foundation's role.
THE Categories: Student volunteering programmes; Development of educational resources.
Relevant SDGs: 4, 10, and 17.
5. International Humanitarian Law and Peace Education with the Red Cross
5.1 International Humanitarian Law Summer Online Reading Group in 2026
In 2026, Associate Professor Yi-Li Lee of NTHU's Institute of Law for Science and Technology collaborated with the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to organize the International Humanitarian Law Summer Online Reading Group.
The programme combined university legal scholarship with the practical experience of a humanitarian organization.
Beginning on July 17, 2026, online sessions were scheduled on Friday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Through structured readings, discussions, and case analysis, the programme provided participants with opportunities to examine international humanitarian law, armed conflicts, and human rights protection.
5.2 Six Core Educational Themes
According to the institute's submission, the programme covered six principal themes:
- The legal framework governing war and international law.
- Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
- Classification of armed conflicts.
- Legal regulation of the means and methods of warfare.
- Application of international human rights law during armed conflict.
- Foundations of international criminal law.
The programme sought to improve understanding of legal obligations during armed conflict, the protection of civilians, and humanitarian principles governing the conduct of hostilities.
5.3 University–NGO Cooperation in Public Legal Education
NTHU contributed legal research and educational expertise, while the Red Cross brought humanitarian perspectives and professional resources.
The programme therefore represents an identifiable cooperation between a university and a humanitarian organization, involving structured educational content and a defined schedule.
It is especially relevant to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), as well as SDG 17.
Supporting Evidence
Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan), international humanitarian law activity information:
https://www.redcross.org.tw/home.jsp?serno=201205070020&acttype=view&dataserno=202609140001
Source: NTHU College of Technology Management, 2026 institutional submission.
Recommended materials: Programme announcement, six-theme syllabus, instructor information, and records of completed sessions.
The available submission supports the collaboration and scheduled programme; the final number of delivered sessions and participants should be verified through completion records.
THE Category: Development of educational resources.
Relevant SDGs: 4, 16, and 17.
6. International Dark Sky Conservation Research and Environmental Education
6.1 Engagement with DarkSky International
NTHU's College of Education has engaged with DarkSky International in research and exchange concerning light pollution prevention, nighttime ecosystems, and sustainable urban environments.
The research team conducted field visits in Arizona, United States, examining dark sky conservation approaches, community lighting guidelines, and environmental education practices.
The collaboration connects NGO expertise in conservation with university research on environmental governance.
6.2 Comparative Research on Light Pollution Governance
The research compares approaches to light pollution management in the United States with cultural and institutional conditions in East Asia.
In some East Asian communities, extensive nighttime lighting is associated with safety, convenience, commercial activity, and urban development.
The research explores how lighting governance approaches may respond to differing community expectations, urban conditions, and environmental concerns.
These comparisons provide a foundation for examining context-sensitive conservation and education strategies.
6.3 Dark Sky Educational Materials and Local Outreach
According to the College of Education's submission, the research team has explored localized light pollution management approaches drawing upon DarkSky International's principles.
The college also reports developing light pollution awareness materials, dark sky conservation guidebooks, and environmental education resources for schools and communities.
These activities are relevant to both research cooperation and educational resource development.
However, the available submission does not include the completed joint research report, published educational materials, co-authorship records, or implementation documentation.
Direct supporting outputs should therefore be obtained before the claimed joint research and published educational resources are treated as independently verified achievements.
Supporting Evidence
DarkSky International:
Source: NTHU College of Education's NGO collaboration submission.
Recommended documentation includes:
- Formal collaboration or research records.
- Comparative research findings.
- Completed educational toolkits, guidebooks, or learning materials.
- Records of school or community dissemination.
The general DarkSky International website establishes the organization's background but does not independently document the NTHU project.
THE Categories: Research programmes; Development of educational resources — subject to supporting documentation.
Relevant SDGs: 3, 11, 13, 15, and 17.
7. Additional Student Engagement and International Volunteering Support
7.1 Tsing Hua International Youth Ambassador Programme
NTHU's Tsing Hua International Youth Ambassador (TIYA) Programme encourages international students to participate in cultural exchange, Indigenous cultural learning, coastal clean-ups, and educational outreach.
These activities provide opportunities to learn about environmental protection, local communities, and social issues through direct participation.
Specific TIYA activities may contribute to this indicator when their implementation involves identifiable NGO partners.
Activities organized solely by university units should not be presented as NGO collaborations without evidence of an external partner.
Supporting Evidence
TIYA coastal clean-up activity:
Source: NTHU Office of Global Affairs institutional submission.
Additional records identifying specific NGO partners and jointly organized activities are recommended.
7.2 Alumni Support for International Student Volunteers in 2026
NTHU's Alumni Association provides financial and logistical support to student organizations and international volunteer teams.
According to its 2026 submission, support was provided for activities involving Eswatini, Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique, including educational outreach and technology-related services.
These contributions help student teams participate in international service and cross-cultural learning.
However, the provision of funding by the Alumni Association does not independently establish that the supported projects involved NGOs.
For this indicator, the relevant evidence should identify the nonprofit partners directly involved in the volunteer activities.
Supporting Evidence
NTHU Alumni Association 2026 subsidy and international volunteer project records.
Recommended documentation: Funding approvals, service reports, NGO partnership records, and equipment or educational material delivery records.
7.3 Arts and Cultural Education Activities
NTHU's arts-related units support educational initiatives such as emerging artist programmes, music courses, interdisciplinary STEAM workshops, and performances involving Indigenous cultural themes.
These activities contribute to cultural education and opportunities for student engagement.
However, not all reported activities identify a participating NGO.
They should be treated as supporting institutional context unless formal nonprofit partnerships and collaborative educational outputs can be documented.
Supporting Evidence
NTHU College of Arts and Arts and Culture Center institutional submissions.
Recommended documentation: Identified NGO collaborators, joint programme records, and completed learning resources.
8. Key Contributions of NTHU–NGO Partnerships
8.1 Expanding Student Participation in Sustainable Development
Through international volunteering, local environmental fieldwork, and educational outreach, NTHU encourages students to address practical social and environmental challenges.
8.2 Translating Research into Accessible Educational Resources
The Touqian River collaboration transforms watershed research and local history into interpretation materials, while the Red Cross partnership connects legal scholarship with structured public education.
8.3 Connecting University Expertise with NGO Experience
Partnerships with nonprofit foundations, environmental organizations, humanitarian groups, and community educators allow university researchers and students to work alongside practitioners with specialized knowledge.
8.4 Strengthening Community-oriented Collaboration
NTHU contributes academic knowledge, research methods, and student participation, while NGOs provide practical expertise, community networks, and educational resources.
The resulting partnerships support education, environmental protection, social inclusion, and public participation.
9. Continuing Commitment
National Tsing Hua University will continue strengthening partnerships with NGOs, nonprofit foundations, humanitarian organizations, and community groups to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Future priorities include digital education, educational inclusion, watershed conservation, environmental learning, human rights and peace education, and biodiversity protection.
The university will encourage participating teams to maintain clear records of partnerships, volunteer activities, educational materials, and joint research outputs.
Through sustained cooperation, NTHU seeks to connect academic knowledge with civil society experience and develop practical opportunities for students, communities, and organizations to contribute to sustainable development.