To deepen cooperation in higher education and collectively respond to critical issues such as an aging society and climate change, National Chung Cheng University (CCU) and the University of Taipei (UT) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 15th. They announced the launch of long-term and diverse cooperation in multiple dimensions, including sustainable development, aging research, lifelong learning, health promotion, and extreme climate action, to inject new momentum into Taiwan’s higher education and social development. Moving forward, the two universities will focus on ESG sustainability education and policy initiatives, while promoting the "30+ University" project to deepen aging and lifelong learning, creating an all-age inclusive environment for learning and living.

The MOU was signed by CCU President Shaw-Jenq Tsai and UT President Ying-Hao Chiu. Combining their respective academic expertise and resources, both parties aimed to enhance the quality of teaching and research through cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaboration, strengthening the universities' practical capacity to address social needs. President Shaw-Jenq Tsai stated that the two universities possessed high complementarity in academic positioning and developmental characteristics. He described the partnership as a north-south collaboration crossing the Zhuoshui River, combining different expertise to form a more profound and broader cooperative energy.

Currently, the scope of cooperation defined by both parties covers five major priorities. First, regarding ESG sustainability, they will jointly promote sustainability-related education, research, talent cultivation, and policy initiatives to help society and industries achieve sustainable development goals. Second, both parties will launch the "30+ University" collaboration, focusing on geriatric education and lifelong learning by planning interdisciplinary courses and activities to foster a more inclusive learning environment. In the field of aging research, the two universities will conduct collaborative studies on topics such as the aging society, health promotion, labor welfare, and cross-domain innovation, while co-hosting academic conferences, sharing research data, and providing policy recommendations.

Additionally, both parties will integrate sports, health, and social engagement to actively promote the practice of a "Healthy Taiwan." The first collaboration between the two universities was scheduled for next year to participate in and support a university road run event in the Chiayi area.

Finally, facing extreme climate and environmental challenges, both sides will launch research and action plans in areas such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk governance, sustainable environmental design, and educational outreach, aiming to bolster social resilience against climate risks.

CCU stated that the complementarity between the two universities was high, and this cooperation would help integrate academic research with local practice, strengthening the university's influence on sustainability and aging issues. The University of Taipei noted that cross-institutional cooperation would facilitate resource exchange between northern, central, and southern Taiwan, expanding the depth and breadth of social service in higher education. At the end of the ceremony, the two parties exchanged gifts. CCU President Tsai Shaw-Jenq presented a "A Rare and Auspicious Bond, the Seat of the Covenant" business card holder.