The Ministry of Environment and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding at a plaque-unveiling ceremony for a new green talent development center at the university.
The memorandum was signed by Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) and NTNU president Wu Cheng-chih (吳正己) to pledge public-private cooperation in educating talent specializing in net zero solutions and sustainable development.
Peng in his address said that fundamental knowledge and skills might become insufficient to address challenges in the rapidly developing green sector.
Photo: CNA
There are courses on sustainable development provided by non-governmental organizations, but not all of them are professional enough to properly train students, he said.
“The government will encourage private organizations to offer courses, but they must be better than government-funded courses if they charge a higher tuition fee,” Peng said.
The ministry is cooperating with 28 universities nationwide to form a green talent development alliance, aiming to provide comprehensive training and practical experience for students, he said.
“Receiving the training is like buying a promising stock,” Peng said, urging interested young people to sign up for the government-funded green talent training courses.
Asked about decreased job opportunities for green talent on some local job banks, Peng said that demand shrank mainly because of the US tariffs, which are holding back companies “just like the COVID-19 pandemic did.”
The ministry would continue to monitor the global situation and is planning for future developments, including allocating more funding to sustain green solutions, he said.
Wu said the university aims to reach 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2048.
The university has introduced artificial intelligence to manage carbon emissions, he said, adding that more resources would be employed to fully support the ministry’s policy.
NTNU sustainability management professor Yeh Shin-cheng (葉欣誠), who also heads the university’s green talent development center, said the program is to begin on April 26, with industrial practitioners invited to share their experience with students.
More sessions and classes would be launched to meet student needs, he said.
The university last month was designated as a hub to lead in green talent development in northern Taiwan.
It has launched a 48-hour green talent development program based on the ministry’s curricular guidelines at a tuition fee of NT$12,000.
The program offered 40 spots and was fully registered only 16 minutes after its implementation on Tuesday last week.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the