In recent years, many universities and colleges have embraced “sustainability” as a fundamental value in institutional development. Previously, ISU represented Taiwan in the “World Youth Meeting” competition held in Nagoya, Japan, achieving remarkable results by addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, ISU partnered with Ritsumeikan University in Japan to organize a seminar titled “How can we achieve SDGs with the help of AI for a better future?” Students from the Department of Applied English and the Department of Applied Japanese under the College of Language Arts, along with a team of faculty members and students from Ritsumeikan University, shared the content of the United Nations’ SDGs at ISU, expanding the reach of sustainable practices on an international scale.
At the invitation of the Department of Applied English, Professor Kanduboda B. Prabath from the College of International Relations of Ritsumeikan University shared the core objectives of SDGs, leading an in-depth discussion on various issues encompassed by the United Nations’ SDGs. Students from Ritsumeikan University and ISU collaborated in group discussions, reflecting on how AI tools could address challenges relevant to sustainable development in daily life. For instance, in terms of mental health issues, a team proposed leveraging an AI ChatGPT chatbot to provide emotional support to individuals suffering from depression, offering a means to meet the needs of patients through interactions with the AI ChatGPT.
One of the participating students, Ming-Hsin Huang, a junior student in the Department of Applied English, mentioned that Professor Kanduboda presented the topic in a humorous and witty manner, using both Japanese and English. The seminar not only deepened the understanding of the interconnectedness between sustainable development and daily life but also allowed students to enhance their foreign language skills through cross-cultural communication with Japanese students. Sheng-Chiang Wu, another junior student in the same department, added that this seminar allowed ISU students to interact and engage in face-to-face discussions with Japanese teachers and students. It was an opportunity to bridge the gap between international connections without going abroad, right within the campus.
sends students abroad for exchange programs and studies in countries like Europe and the U.S. every year. By leveraging global resources, ISU organizes various activities to provide students with ample opportunities for international interactions and broaden their horizons. With a longstanding commitment to creating a bilingual environment, ISU boasts a wealth of international resources. Currently, ISU has established academic partnerships with more than 500 sister schools from five continents. In addition, with a diverse student body comprising over 40 nationalities and nearly 1,500 international students, the campus has been transformed into a mini United Nations, where international exchanges have become an integral part of students’ daily lives.
