【News from the Office of University Social Responsibility】     

To welcome incoming freshmen in the first semester of the 2023 academic year, the Office of Student Affairs held the Freshmen Focus Workshop on September 7. The Office of University Social Responsibility (USR) participated under the theme “NCCU Express – Let USR Be the Guide on Your Life’s Platform,” introducing its mission and various USR projects. The aim was to encourage students to reflect on their college journey not just as a pursuit of knowledge, but as an opportunity to engage in self-directed learning and social responsibility practices.

The USR Office was established to implement the Ministry of Education’s “University Social Responsibility (USR) Program.” Its core functions focus on local engagement, talent cultivation, and international connections, with attention to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The office encourages students to apply professional knowledge and creativity to address gaps between education and practice, promote local identity and development, and connect globally, positioning the university as a key driver in social engagement.

As USR values university engagement with society, the workshop began by inviting students to taste four types of honey. This allowed them to experience how honey differs depending on the nectar source, reflecting the diversity of local ecosystems. Some honeys were sweet with a hint of sourness, others had mild bitterness, while some differed in the depth of their sweetness. This activity challenged the stereotype that honey has a single flavor and served as a metaphor for learning—urging students to go beyond seeking “the right answer” and instead approach knowledge and community with openness and curiosity.

One presenter shared that the sweet-and-sour honey came from the flowers of the Red Danpi tree in Pingxi, surprising many attendees. Known in Japanese as *sakaki*, Red Danpi trees were traditionally planted near shrines and used in religious offerings. It is said that Japanese settlers introduced the species to Pingxi during the colonial era to pray for safety while developing the mining industry. Decades later, Red Danpi has become a signature product of Pingxi’s forest-based economy. Some described the honey as having a rose-like aroma—leaving a deep impression and breaking the common stereotype that Pingxi is only about sky lanterns and railways.

Another honey, mildly bitter with a ginseng-like taste, was harvested from *Schefflera* trees (also known as “jiangmu”) growing in the Maokong and Yinhedong areas near NCCU. As one of Taiwan’s few winter-flowering nectar plants, Schefflera honey is regarded by locals as a natural tonic. Due to the high density of Schefflera trees in these areas, the honey is an overlooked specialty, alongside more famous local products like Tieguanyin tea and green bamboo shoots.

Bees are indicator species for environmental quality, and honey reflects the unique flavor of local ecosystems. Among the four honeys showcased—Red Danpi, Schefflera, lychee, and longan—two were sourced from the greater Wenshan area near the university. These honeys carry not only ecological stories but also represent important sites for NCCU's USR practice. By starting with honey tasting, the event aimed to show that social responsibility and SDGs, though complex in theory, can begin with lived experience. This led into USR project assistants introducing different project models and encouraged students to enroll in USR-related courses.

In addition to the courses offered by USR projects, NCCU’s General Education Center also promotes a “Self-Directed Learning” program. Students are encouraged to propose their own topics for social responsibility engagement through two types of proposals: course-based and certification-based. Proposals are accepted each March and October, and upon approval, students can earn general education credits toward graduation upon completion.

At the end of the workshop, the USR Office introduced two jointly operated bus routes—No. 236 and Green 1—to help freshmen envision how, beyond classroom learning, they can participate in various USR projects and use these accessible routes to explore communities beyond campus. This experience helps them embark on a self-directed “NCCU Express” of social responsibility in real-world settings.