NUU Industrial Design Wins Global Views USR Sustainable Curriculum Excellence Award, Showcasing the Global Competitiveness of Its Five Innovations Education Model
National United University (NUU) has achieved another milestone in sustainable higher education. Through the collective efforts of faculty members and students from the Department of Industrial Design (NUUID), the university received the prestigious Excellence Award in the Sustainable Curriculum Category at the 2026 Global Views USR (University Social Responsibility) Awards. This highly competitive recognition highlights the department's achievements in interdisciplinary talent development and its success in bringing sustainable design education onto the international stage.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Establishing the NUU Industry Masters Sustainability Lecture Series
The award-winning curriculum encompasses the third-year core courses in Product Development and Internship, along with an innovative sustainability education initiative known as the NUU Industry Masters Sustainability Lecture Series.
Initiated by former Chair Yang Hsi-Wen of the General Education Committee, this large-scale general education course was developed collaboratively by four faculty members from the Department of Industrial Design: Chou Yung-Ping, Hsu Yi-Chuan, Chiang Hsiu-Jye, and Chao Lung-Chieh.
The course successfully attracted more than 120 students from different departments, colleges, and academic years, helping integrate sustainability awareness into the university's learning environment (Figures 1–3).
Connecting the Five Innovations Education Model with International Opportunities: Exchanges at France's Concours Lépine
The Department of Industrial Design has devoted many years to developing its distinctive Five Innovations Education Model, encompassing Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Maker Education, and Local Revitalization. The department has also established strong international connections.
Each year, National United University provides financial support for students to participate in Concours Lépine in France, a prestigious invention competition with a history spanning 125 years.
In 2025, five NUU students, including four from the Department of Industrial Design and one from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, were invited to the Versailles Exhibition Center to participate in a Creathon with students and representatives from Rubika and Strate, two prominent French design institutions (Figures 4–5).
Beyond demonstrating their professional capabilities in an international setting, the students visited Taiwan's representative office in France and attended an ambassadorial dinner (Figure 6). These experiences provided opportunities for meaningful exchanges with diplomatic officials and trade promotion representatives.
Such international engagement broadened students' global perspectives and strengthened their motivation to improve foreign language proficiency and pursue further studies abroad.
Student Achievement: From Electrical Engineering to Prestigious French Design Graduate Programs
Liu Chun-Chi, a fourth-year student in the Department of Industrial Design, represents an outstanding example of NUU's commitment to helping students discover and develop their individual talents.
Originally enrolled in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Liu later transferred to Industrial Design to pursue his passion for design.
In a core design course, Liu collaborated with Tsai Tsung-Han to develop "Re-Wet Box" (再濕箱), a sustainable packaging innovation that replaces conventional plastic sealing tape with an adhesive mechanism inspired by postage stamps.
The innovative concept helps reduce plastic pollution and earned a gold medal at Concours Lépine (Figure 7).
Supported by this international achievement and his strong English proficiency, Liu successfully gained admission to several prestigious art and design graduate programs in France in 2025. His success demonstrates the effectiveness and international competitiveness of NUUID's design education.
Integrating SD4SD: Developing Patent-Worthy Innovations and Advancing Design Education in Taiwan
NUUID has actively incorporated SD4SD (Social Design for Sustainable Development) into its curriculum, drawing inspiration from the innovative approaches of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In 2025, the department successfully secured support through the highly competitive Ministry of Education's STEM and Female Talent Development Program.
With funding from the program, students developed more than 10 original designs with patent potential (Figures 8–12), demonstrating the department's commitment to industry-oriented innovation and internationally competitive design education.
The Department of Industrial Design stated that it will continue strengthening sustainability and internationalization in its teaching. Through the Five Innovations Education Model, the department aims to nurture every NUUID student into an outstanding designer equipped with a strong sense of social responsibility and global competitiveness.
About the Department of Industrial Design at National United University
The Department of Industrial Design at National United University (NUUID) is committed to cultivating design professionals with hands-on skills and strong problem-solving capabilities.
Through extensive international competition experience and industry-academia collaboration, the department strives to create a highly internationally connected industrial design education environment in Taiwan.
