Green Action: CJCU’s Net Zero & Sustainable Living General Education Courses for Environmental Practice
2March 7, 2025 – Visit to the Jane Goodall Ecological Education Center
To promote University Social Responsibility (USR), the Ministry of Education emphasizes "local engagement" and "talent cultivation." Chang Jung Christian University’s (CJCU) USR project, “Green Community Roots & Shoots Action,” integrates six Net Zero and Sustainable Life general education courses, guiding 297 students to engage in a series of environmental sustainability actions in real-world practice sites. This semester, the project was incorporated into the curriculum from March to May, where students learned about the USR initiative, participated in ecological tours of Barclay Memorial Park, and engaged in activities such as removing Mikania micrantha, measuring carbon sequestration of trees, and implementing the CARE project.
To deepen student awareness of environmental sustainability and reinforce the university’s commitment to a net-zero lifestyle, CJCU’s General Education Center has made “Net Zero Sustainable Living and Practice” a required course for all first-year students since the 2023 academic year.
On April 24 and 28, Associate Professor Hui-Chi Chiu and Associate Professor Chao-Ling Huang led students on a field visit to Barclay Park to explore its rich biodiversity. This helped cultivate students’ appreciation and sense of responsibility toward local natural resources. On May 5, Assistant Professor Mao-Jung Lee led a hands-on removal activity of Mikania micrantha, enabling students to understand the threat of invasive species and gain practical experience in environmental action. The course also introduced the process of converting removed plants into green products, embedding the concept of circular economy into the learning experience.
In response to global climate action and carbon neutrality policies, students conducted carbon sequestration measurements of Melaleuca, Sterculia monosperma, and Bombax ceiba on May 9, 12, and 23. Under the guidance of Associate Professors Chao-Ling Huang, Ching-Hua Huang, I-Ting Hsieh, and CJCU volunteer Cheng-Cheng Tsai from the Barclay Park Sustainability Association, students calculated a total carbon sequestration of 34.33 metric tons—equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of three people.
Assistant Professor Hsien-Tsung Chen introduced students to the “Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Ecological Education Center” on campus. International students from the International Bachelor Program in Sustainable Development shared the CARE project with Taiwanese classmates, including making reusable cloth sanitary pads while addressing “period poverty” and “menstrual stigma.” The project connected gender rights, environmental awareness, and fostered intercultural, interdisciplinary learning to strengthen global citizenship and applied understanding of global issues.
One student shared: “Although I’m not a top performer academically, the moment I pulled out the Mikania micrantha with my own hands, I felt for the first time that I had truly done something meaningful.” Another student said: “When we first heard about carbon sequestration in class, it sounded complex. But after trying it ourselves, we realized it was actually simpler than we thought—we just lacked practical experience. Walking into the park and connecting with nature was both fun and special.”
Associate Professor Chun-Lin Liu, Director of the General Education Center, emphasized that the “Net Zero Sustainable Living and Practice” course links directly to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CJCU’s mission of USR. University President and USR Project Leader, Yung-Lung Lee, stated that environmental education is a defining feature of CJCU. Through action-based learning, faculty and students collectively demonstrate real-world outcomes in nature conservation and sustainability—making sustainability more than knowledge, but a daily practice.
April 25, 2025 – Volunteer Cheng-Cheng Tsai introduces carbon sequestration in class
April 28, 2025 – Visit to Barclay Park with Associate Professor
May 5, 2025 – Removal of Mikania micrantha
May 5, 2025 – Student-led Mikania micrantha removal
May 5, 2025 – Student-led Mikania micrantha removal
May 9 & 12, 2025 –Students measure tree carbon sequestration
May 9 & 12, 2025 –International students share how to sew reusable cloth sanitary pads