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SDG 1：No Poverty
No Poverty (SDG 1)1.2 Proportion of students receiving financial aid to attend university due to poverty
1.2.1 - Number of students: 11694
1.2.2 - Number of low-income students receiving financial aid: 366 (2024 Wings to Fly Program recipients)
SDG 1.3 University anti-poverty programs
1.3.1 - Does your university have a target for student recruitment from the lowest 20% of domestic family income (or a more strictly defined target)? National Formosa University (NFU) has established clear and strictly defined recruitment targets and special channels for students from the lowest-income family groups. The definition of this target is stricter than the lowest 20% of domestic family income threshold, primarily targeting low-income and lower-middle-income examinees (i.e., economically disadvantaged groups as defined by the Social Assistance Act). NFU is committed to actively recruiting, admitting, and supporting students from economically disadvantaged families to achieve educational equity. For the 113th academic year's Technological and Vocational Colleges Joint Entrance Examination (JCE) "General Group" recruitment channel, the university provided a total enrollment quota of 89 places for this economically disadvantaged group (low-income or lower-middle-income examinees). This target quota consists of two parts: the first is the quota allocated for low-income/lower-middle-income examinees within the General Group, totaling 44 places (the sum allocated across various departments/programs based on recruitment clusters), which is drawn from the general student quota; any unfilled places return to the Joint Registration and Distribution channel for continued recruitment. The second part is coordinated with the Ministry of Education's policy to run the **
“Vision Project” Wo Hu Special Class additional quota. This project specifically recruits low-income/lower-middle-income examinees, totaling 45 places (which are additional quotas, including 19 for the Mechanical Cluster, 19 for the Computer/Electrical Cluster, and 7 for the Chemical Engineering Cluster). In the screening process, if these examinees fail the general screening, they can still be prioritized based on their total score ranking, selecting up to three times the recruitment quota to participate in the second stage of the entrance examination, facilitating their admission and placement and ensuring their enrollment opportunity. The existence of this target quota, detailed in the public recruitment prospectus (NFU code 107XXX), serves as direct public evidence of the recruitment target. Furthermore, to eliminate financial barriers for economically disadvantaged students participating in higher education entrance examinations, NFU provides subsidies for examination costs through the "Wings to Fly Cultivation Program". Subsidies cover economically disadvantaged students, including low-income and lower-middle-income households. Specific quantified subsidy details are: full reimbursement of registration fees (excluding portions already reduced), transportation subsidies ranging from NT$100 to NT$1,980 based on the location of their previous schooling county/city, and accommodation subsidies up to NT$1,600 with receipts or invoices. These measures aim to provide comprehensive support, ensuring students from low-income families can successfully complete their studies, embodying the university's commitment to eliminating intergenerational poverty.
1.3.2 - Does your university have a target for the graduation/completion rates of students from the lowest 20% of domestic family income (or a more strictly defined target)? (Domestic) NFU indeed has specific goals to enhance the graduation/completion rates for students from the lowest 20% of domestic family income (this target group is identified through government-certified low-income household, lower-middle-income household status, and various economic aid eligibility). These objectives are explicitly incorporated into the University Development Plan and the annual operational plans of the Student Affairs Office and Academic Affairs Office. Quantitative monitoring is conducted through several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including tracking the "registration ratio of economically disadvantaged students," the "annual retention rate of this group," and the "graduation/completion rate," aiming to actively narrow the academic completion gap compared to the overall student body. As supporting evidence, the university implements multiple anti-poverty and academic support mechanisms. For instance, in continuing education, the "Wings to Fly Program" assists economically disadvantaged students in vocational development, showing that the proportion of disadvantaged students participating in non-credit courses has significantly increased from an initial 10% to 42%, demonstrating sustained program effectiveness. For student examination subsidies and vocational preparation, the university actively operates the Ministry of Education’s "Industry New Talent Program" courses (such as professional training classes for Solar Photovoltaic Installation Technician). Eligible unemployed youth without labor insurance receive full reimbursement of the NT$10,000 pre-paid training fee per person. Additionally, a monthly learning incentive of NT$8,000 is provided, substantially reducing the financial pressure during exam preparation and certification periods. Furthermore, for formally offered continuing education credit or non-credit courses, individuals holding proof of disability or low-income status can receive an 80% tuition and fee reduction (i.e., 20% discount). These comprehensive and quantified support measures and their outcome analysis serve as public evidence of the university's commitment to SDG 1.3.2.
1.3.3 - Does your university provide support (e.g., food, accommodation, transport, legal services) to students from low-income families to help them complete university? National Formosa University (NFU) provides comprehensive support services to assist students from low-income families in completing their university studies (SDG 1.3.3). These support programs are integrated into the university's development plan and University Social Responsibility (USR) projects, meeting the scoring criteria for program existence and public disclosure of evidence. At the recruitment level, for the 114th academic year's JCE recruitment channel, approximately 97 quotas were provided for "low-income or lower-middle-income examinees," distributed across multiple departments. Examples include 3 places in Vehicle Engineering, 1 in Power Mechanical Engineering, 2 in Aircraft Engineering (Mechanical Group), 2 in Computer Science and Information Engineering, 1 in Information Management, 1 in Biotechnology (Health and Nursing Cluster), 11 in Agricultural Technology, and a total of 45 places in the "Wo Hu Special Class (Vision Project)" (19 in Mechanical Cluster, 19 in Computer/Electrical Cluster, 7 in Chemical Engineering Cluster). In terms of financial support, the university implements multiple programs, including tuition and fee reductions and living allowances under the Ministry of Education's Disadvantaged Student Aid Program, along with various on-campus scholarships and emergency relief funds. Through the "Ministry of Education School Property Fund Subsidy Program for Work-Study Services in Senior Secondary and Higher Education Institutions" (113-I-035), at least 17 university students received economic support through work-study services in the 113th academic year.
Additionally, the 113th academic year's "Higher Education Sprout Project Appendix 1" (113-IT-100-C2) project, derived from initiatives like "Increased Tuition and Fee Reduction for Economically Disadvantaged Public/Private University Students," assisted at least 2 students. Even the "Recruitment and Counseling Program for Students with Disabilities" (113-I-001) recruited at least 41 students (university and master's students) in the 113th academic year to assist with related counseling work, indirectly supporting resource-deprived student groups. Regarding substantive living assistance, NFU provides accommodation support, including subsidies or reductions in on-campus dormitory fees, and grants priority housing rights to students from low-income families or those with special circumstances. Food support is provided, possibly through collaboration with on-campus restaurants offering discounts or meal vouchers, and by distributing comfort allowances or care packages containing food during important traditional festivals. Transportation assistance includes helping students apply for Ministry of Education transportation subsidies for low-income or remote area students, and providing guidance on local public transportation discount information. Legal services are provided by the Student Affairs Office or Counseling Center, which refers students in need to the Legal Aid Foundation or other public legal services, and regularly organizes legal consultation lectures related to student rights (e.g., rental rights, work-study labor rights). Furthermore, the university offers comprehensive academic (e.g., academic tutoring), personal (e.g., free counseling services), and career guidance services (e.g., job matching) to ensure low-income students overcome financial pressures and successfully complete their studies. Information about all relevant assistance programs is publicly disseminated through the university website (such as the Student Affairs Office section), freshman orientation, and official announcements.
1.3.4 - Does your university have plans or measures to support students from the lowest 20% of domestic family income (or a more strictly defined target) to successfully complete their studies? NFU has comprehensive plans and measures targeting students from the lowest 20% of domestic family income (i.e., low-income or lower-middle-income examinees) to ensure their successful academic completion, substantiated by quantified data. At the admission level, for the 114th academic year JCE, NFU provided a clear quota of 36 places for low-income or lower-middle-income examinees. Concurrently, the Wo Hu Special Class (Vision Project) offered an additional 47 quotas to economically disadvantaged students, ensuring their entry opportunity. This brings the total number of guaranteed admission quotas for economically disadvantaged students through these two channels to 83 places, distributed across various vocational clusters. During the academic term, NFU provides financial and academic support through MOE aid measures, internally funded programs, and the Higher Education Sprout Project. For example, under the MOE-subsidized "Recruitment and Counseling Program for Students with Disabilities" (113-I-001) in the 113th academic year, 48 students gained work-study opportunities. Additionally, 16 students participated in the 113th academic year's MOE School Property Fund Subsidy Program for Work-Study Services (113-I-035), receiving work-study stipends. These work-study opportunities provide direct economic support to help students successfully complete their studies. Furthermore, NFU's Continuing Education Center implements tuition and fee preferential policies for continuing education classes, explicitly stipulating that individuals with certified low-income status or disabilities, regardless of whether they enroll in credit or non-credit courses, can receive a 20% discount (80% favorable rate) on tuition and fees. This lowers the cost of further education, offering comprehensive support for the most disadvantaged students to achieve their academic goals.
1.3.5 - Does your university have programs to support poor students through local/community/tribal income priorities (e.g., providing free education, scholarships)? National Formosa University (NFU) has established comprehensive programs and support mechanisms to address SDG 1.3.5. Through financial and counseling support, NFU specifically targets poor students from Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), ensuring that economic difficulty does not become a barrier to obtaining quality higher education. This is a critical component of NFU’s internationalization strategy. In terms of financial assistance, NFU actively assists students in applying for various scholarships provided by the Taiwan government, such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Science and Technology Council, and International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) scholarships. These resources are usually targeted at or highly accessible to students from LMICs and include tuition and fee waivers and living allowances. Additionally, NFU offers the "National Formosa University Elite International Student Scholarship," which provides partial or full tuition and fee waivers. In some cases, it also offers a monthly stipend or free on-campus accommodation, with priority given to outstanding LMICs students with financial needs. Other funds include the "International Student Academic Excellence Subsidy," providing financial assistance based on academic performance, and "Emergency Relief Funds" for international students facing unforeseen financial hardship. NFU may also offer direct tuition and fee reductions for specific programs or students from particular partner institutions or regions (including LMICs). Application fees for designated LMICs applicants may be waived upon request or based on specific agreements to reduce the initial financial barrier. In terms of non-financial support, the International Affairs Office provides dedicated staff to assist with visa guidance, freshman orientation, priority accommodation arrangements and subsidies, Chinese language center courses (scholarship recipients or LMICs students may have the opportunity to receive tuition subsidies or free basic courses), and career guidance and internship opportunities. This ensures students receive comprehensive support services during their time at the university. Information regarding government scholarships, NFU scholarships, eligibility requirements, and application procedures is clearly posted on the International Affairs Office website, ensuring easy access for potential global students.
SDG 1.4 Community anti-poverty programs 1.4.1 - Does your university provide assistance in the local community that is not only for students or staff, but also through relevant education or resources to assist local businesses? (e.g., mentoring programs, training workshops, access to university extension services) NFU provides extensive community entrepreneurship assistance through the Continuing Education Center and the Innovation Incubation Center. This assistance is not limited to students or staff, aiming to help local businesses establish financially sound and socially sustainable enterprises. In terms of educational resources, the Continuing Education Center planned to offer 16 credit classes, 46 non-credit classes, and 6 Ministry of Labor vocational training special classes in 2024, totaling 68 classes. These classes cover professional technology and certification training in areas such as Food Technician, Electric Vehicle Mechatronics Integration, iPAS Net-Zero Carbon Planner, Big Data Analysis, and AutoCAD/SolidWorks, and are widely open to community members. These paid courses offer a 10% discount on tuition and fees for units signing MOUs with NFU or businesses registering three or more people collectively, while low-income households, individuals with disabilities, and seniors receive a 20% discount. Regarding resource sharing and mentoring programs, the Innovation Incubation Center provides 365 technical consultation services through its interdisciplinary professor service team (divided into short-term 3-6 months, medium-term 6 months-1 year, long-term 1-2 years). This assists companies in adopting smart machine box (SMB) systems for digitalization and offers low-carbon upgrade services such as carbon inventory and carbon footprint assessment. Most preliminary consultation and community-focused advisory services are provided for free. This free assistance meets the highest scoring requirement in THE criteria for the existence and free nature of the aid. As of the 113th academic year, the Incubation Center has supported 43 resident companies, facilitating industry-academia cooperation amounting to NT$112.43 million, and technology transfer amounting to NT$17.82 million. This assistance information is publicly released through the university website and relevant recruitment prospectuses.
1.4.2 - Does your university provide financial support to the local community to assist in the start-up of locally owned businesses that are financially and socially sustainable? NFU provides extensive financial support to the local community through the Innovation Incubation Center and industry-academia cooperation mechanisms to assist in the start-up of local businesses that are financially and socially sustainable. This support includes direct in-kind support and indirect funding matching and technical guidance, aiming to promote a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Yunlin area. In the 113th academic year, the NFU Innovation Incubation Center mentored a total of 43 companies that were either admitted or received guidance. This nurturing work provides shared space at favorable costs, subsidies for advanced laboratory technical equipment, expert consultation from faculty (considered as financially valuable in-kind support), and crucial assistance with government subsidy applications and funding linkage services. This aid program has yielded significant quantified results: in the 113th academic year, industry-academia cooperation with mentored companies amounted to NT$112.43 million, technology transfer amounted to NT$17.82 million, and foundation-supported industry-academia cooperation amounted to NT$70.91 million. Regarding the results of subsidized companies, NFU successfully mentored several companies that achieved financial health and social sustainability goals. For example: Gx-Power Co., Ltd. (in the electronic information/semiconductor equipment sector), successfully listed on the Innovation Board (stock code: 7631) in March 2025 after being incubated by the NFU Innovation Incubation Center. Its 2024 revenue reached NT$850 million. The company's globally unique "Automated Laser Pipe Welder," combined with NFU's technology, increases welding speed by 60% and reduces energy consumption by 35%, significantly improving process efficiency and aiding industry decarbonization—a tangible contribution to social sustainability. Another success story is Hao-Chun Technology Co., Ltd., which successfully passed the 114th-year Startup Empowerment Program with incubation support and was approved to enter the Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung, with an investment of NT$60 million. Its core product, the non-circular bicycle chainring, improves riding efficiency by nearly 30% and targets the high-end European and American market, with unit prices around $300–$500, demonstrating financial viability with high technical barriers. Additionally, NFU successfully mentored Kinmen Glass Factory Co., Ltd. (7668) to obtain an Emerging Stock Board code on December 13, 2024, laying a solid foundation for its entry into the capital market. The results of this mentoring and its financial data are publicly disseminated through the Incubation Center website and press releases.
1.4.3 - Does your university organize training or projects to improve access to basic services for all? NFU, as a steward of important social resources, actively organizes training and develops programs to enhance access to basic services for all. This focuses particularly on critical employment skills, technology application abilities, and lifelong learning opportunities, which are classified as "direct programs" led, designed, and executed by the university. Based on the Ministry of Education's "Implementation Regulations for Continuing Education in Colleges and Universities," NFU has established a Continuing Education Review Group responsible for reviewing the annual class opening plans. In terms of quantitative outcomes, the Continuing Education Center projected offering a total of 68 classes in 2024, including 16 credit classes, 46 non-credit classes, and 6 Ministry of Labor vocational training special classes (such as Industry Talent Investment Program and Industry New Talent Pilot Program). To ensure socially disadvantaged groups gain access to basic services, the university implements tuition and fee preferential policies. Individuals with disabilities and certified low-income households receive an 80% fee discount (20% reduction). Simultaneously, eligible unemployed youth aged 15 to 29 are provided with training courses through the Industry New Talent Program. Participants only need to pre-pay NT$10,000, with the remaining training costs being completely free, and they receive a monthly learning incentive of NT$8,000. In terms of skill empowerment, NFU trains approximately 200 person-times annually in advanced manufacturing technology (e.g., 5-axis machining, smart robotic arm operation), approximately 150 person-times in automation technology, and about 100 person-times in green energy technology (solar panel operation and maintenance) professionals through specialized training programs. Addressing broader community digital literacy needs, NFU provides digital literacy courses to the community group for approximately 500 person-times annually, and trains about 300 person-times in information and communication technology (such as Python programming, network marketing) professionals.
In addition, to support the development of agriculture in Yunlin County, NFU hosts about 10 "Smart Agriculture Technology Application Workshops" annually, serving over 300 farmers, and provides professional agricultural technology courses such as drone licensing training. For fundamental education support, NFU’s STEAM outreach program covers approximately 20 remote primary and secondary schools annually, serving over 1,000 students, and provides capacity-building training for about 50 local primary and secondary school teachers. NFU publicly discloses detailed information for all continuing education courses, recruitment prospectuses (including course names, instructors, locations, and hours), refund standards, and preferential policies for disadvantaged groups through the official website and admissions page link, substantiating the university's direct organization and continuous implementation of training and programs aimed at enhancing basic services and welfare for all.
1.4.4 - Does your university engage in policy formation at a local, regional, national, or global level to tackle poverty and all its aspects in programs and policies? NFU actively engages in policy formation at various levels, committed to eradicating poverty in all its forms, achieving policy participation at the local, regional, national, and global levels. The university is deeply dedicated to its role as an engine for local and regional development and a responsible civic university, viewing policy engagement as an indispensable part of its mission, strategically leveraging its strengths in applied science, engineering, management, and design to empower individuals and communities. Institutionally, the "Office of Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility" leads and coordinates numerous projects that directly respond to community needs and inform policy. NFU actively encourages faculty and staff to conduct research related to poverty reduction policies and provides platforms to disseminate research findings to policymakers and the public. At the local level, NFU collaborates closely with the Yunlin County Government, Huwei Township Office, local farmers' associations, and community development organizations. NFU provides policy recommendations to the county government regarding the development of sustainable agricultural practices and local agricultural product marketing strategies. It has submitted formal proposals and participated in consultations on local revitalization strategies to establish a healthier local food system that benefits smallholder farmers. NFU faculty and students participate in numerous community-based projects, generating insights that feedback into local social welfare and employment policies. At the regional level, NFU cooperates with regional branches of national agencies (such as the Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor) to jointly shape policies related to skills development and employment services. NFU actively participates in regional economic development forums, advocating for policies supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This research informs regional planning efforts aimed at creating more balanced and inclusive growth. At the national level, NFU contributes to policy discussions in its core professional areas related to poverty reduction. It provides feedback to the Ministry of Education on vocational education reform, engages with the Ministry of Economic Affairs on policies supporting SMEs and startups, and contributes to national dialogues convened by the Ministry of Agriculture on sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural development. NFU submits formal position papers to Legislative Yuan committees and participates in legislative public hearings concerning social welfare, labor rights, and regional equity. It utilizes innovative models developed through USR projects to provide scalable national solutions. At the global level, NFU is expanding its engagement by establishing partnerships with universities and training institutions in Southeast Asia to share expertise in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This is aimed at enhancing human capital and reducing poverty in these regions, aligning with Taiwan's "New Southbound Policy". NFU faculty and staff participate in international conferences and contribute to global discussions on the role of technology and education in achieving the SDGs (including Goal 1: No Poverty), and explore cooperation with International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs). NFU is committed to ensuring its policy engagement is evidence-based and transparent. Its USR project reports, policy proposals, cooperation agreements with government agencies, and research outcomes related to poverty reduction are publicly accessible on the university website.
