UTSDGs

【USR Hub】Playful by Name, Promising a Joyful Life in West Taipei - Management and Practice of Playful Urban Marketing - Sustainable Development and Social Issues Lecture Series – Aging Population and Rural Revitalization

Wanhua is the administrative district in Taipei with the most serious aging population problem, often evoking an image of being old and outdated. This lecture combined with the "Social Issues" course of Associate Professor Li Tianshen from the Department of Social and Public Affairs, invited two local Wanhua figures: Vice President Chen Qiaolun of Wanhua Community University and COO Kevin Shi Jingyao, known as the "Wanhua Expert," to introduce Wanhua's aging population issue and local revitalization efforts. Dr. Zhao Yongmao, Honorary President of the Taiwan Local Governance Research Society and Honorary Professor of the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, attended the lecture and extended greetings to the speakers and students. Vice President Chen Qiaolun's speech, titled "Community University and Symbiotic Communities for the Elderly," discussed Taiwan's transition into a super-aged society by 2025. The community university, with the goals of "knowledge liberation" and "civil society," uses Wanhua as an example to showcase the area's diverse ecology and cultural features, providing learning and exchange opportunities for the elderly, such as concerts, health promotion, and dementia-friendly activities. Wanhua Community University promotes intergenerational learning and mutual understanding between generations, such as through grandparent-grandchild reading sessions and collaborative green picture book learning, fostering social cohesion. The university also organizes community activities and collaborative learning projects, including riverbank tours, environmental experiences, and local knowledge-building, encouraging the elderly to participate in cultural exchanges and community activities. Lastly, the university showcased its achievements in promoting sustainable living and active aging, including ecological tours, board game learning, and intergenerational interaction programs. Kevin, the founder of the "Wanhua Coffee Aroma" initiative, started the project to connect local coffee shops and businesses to promote Wanhua's culture and local revitalization. The initiative included three guided tour routes, coffee lectures, small kitchen experiences, and the release of various physical products (such as postcards and canvas bags). Initially, 13 coffee shops and local businesses were connected, later expanding to 16. The activities strengthened community ties and cultural exchanges. However, after the pandemic, the number of participating businesses decreased to eight. The team held multiple online meetings and launched a pandemic donation campaign, donating coffee filter bags to Taipei City Fire Department and Police Department, demonstrating community solidarity. The initiative held several lectures and tours, attracting a significant number of participants, which helped increase sales for the businesses by 10%. In addition, the event included a market opening and cultural performances, injecting new vitality into the coffee culture in Wanhua.

Implemented by Center for Teaching and Learning Development
Date: 2024/10/30