News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　National Chiayi University organized “One-Day College Student” event jointly with the Social Affairs Department, Chiayi City Government for elders in Chiayi City. The event took place on Oct. 15th, Oct. 22nd, and Nov. 1st respectively. The opening ceremony kicked off at the Lantan campus on Oct. 15th, Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui and Councilman Chen Jia-Ping shared with the elders their learning experience as NCYU seniors. The series of experience activities were expected to to help expand the horizons of the elderly, and promote physical and mental health and delay disability or dementia through social activities. Above all, the event was expected to bring a sense of accomplishment and fulfill the college dreams of the elders, unable to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the early rural society of Taiwan.

　　As a local comprehensive university, NCYU shoulders the responsibility of cultivating professionals and faciliating development in the region. Chiayi City is one of the 30 cities initiating the “Age-Friendly City” concept of WHO. Under the steadfast leadership of Mayor Huang Ming-Hui, the city won the honor of being the happiest city in Taiwan this year. In order to fulfill the social responsibilities as a university and cultivate empathy among students, NCYU worked with the Chiayi City Government to create a one-day college student experience event for the elderly. The event featured the school’s signature courses and activities at the the unique teaching practice site – Horticultural Technology Center. A teaching team consisting of NCYU teachers and students was formed to accompany and assist the elderly to experience the fun and learn the professional skill of planting orchids, which brought them satisfaction beyond words.

　　For this one-day college student experience event, the NCYU team specially designed a student ID card for each elder student. The one-day college student ID cards were vividly and sprightly designed to characterize themselves from the conventional student ID cards as a token of memory for their participation in the event. At the opening ceremony, every elder smiled happily and contentedly upon receiving his/her student ID card. Towards the end of the event, a symbolic graduation ceremony was organized by NCYU. Dressed in bachelor’s gowns, the elder participants obtained a certificate of completion, delighted to see their young dream of studying in college happily realized.

　　Mr. Lin Yao-Chuan, 92 years old, said that he was happy to be able to join the event. Since retiring in 1995, he has been continuously learning and joining wide-ranging courses with people in the Fumin Community. He said that you need to activate the brain so that your brain will not age and degenerate, which is key to a healthier life.

　　NCYU President Chyung Ay indicated that the university set up a C-level neighborhood long-term care center jointly with Chia-Yi Christian Hospital on the Linsen campus in 2019. The objective was to provide a safe and cozy day care environment on campus for the elderly in Taiping Village and Linsen Village. The students also contribute what they have learned at school when offering long-term care and community care services. He expressed gratitude to the city government for granting NCYU this opportunity to hold the event, which allowed the students to take care of the elders, and keep them company on this learning journey. He believed that both young and elder students learned a lot in the course of the event. In the future, he wished for more opportunities to cooperate with the city government, so that Chiayi City can become an even better place, and continue to rank as the happiest city each year.

　　According to Mayor Huang Ming-Hui, how to provide friendly care to the elderly, with an aging population and declining birthrate in Taiwan, is an issue that demands our attention. She was grateful for NCYU President Chyung Ay for leading the teacher-student team to realize the dream of the elders by organizing the “One-Day College Student.” What made the event all the more meaningful was that it also helped promote the physical and spiritual health of the elders. Meanwhile, as President Ay mentioned, this was a form of feedback and care from the university to the community and the city. It also helped build empathy in the students of NCYU.