NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 永續、SDGs與藝術實踐(0346)
Course Name	(Eng.) Sustainability, SDGs, and Art
Offering Dept	General Education Center
Course Type	Required	Credits	2	Teacher	Theodorus Arnoldus Maria Richard
Department	General	Language	English	Semester	2026-SPRING
Course Description	This course provides students a flipped classroom and active approach of the study of sustainability and its practice in Taiwan, especially through artistic expression. This course contains four major aspects: (1) responding to social change trends and issues to integrate into learning and future work; develop communication, teamwork, problem solving, and a willingness to continue professional growth through practice and reflection on sustainability; (2) exploring the connotation and case studies of the 17 United Nations SDGs; (3) actually use the SDGs as inspiration to create individual art works; and (4) self-examination and team review of change capabilities and achievements. The class will be discussion and action oriented on the basis of prior material reading, which the students are expected to complete before class time. Students are asked to take an active initiative to reflect upon and take action for change in the modern global environment by expressing their ideas and impressions of sustainability and the SDGs in individual art works in class. Students will be asked to actively participate in the activities and share their findings in the class. The subjects and documents, as well as the class schedule, mentioned in the syllabus are only indicative and can be changed pursuant to the teacher’s ideas on the progress of the class. All materials are expected to be read and/or viewed by the students before class. All required home-works are to be submitted on the relevant dates to the teacher, without late acceptance. Submission of papers is on paper, and midterm presentation and classroom summaries are digital. Each group presentation will last around 40 minutes. The presenters will prepare 4 to 5 questions on the material which will be discussed in class. For this purpose, the students will be asked to form groups of 2 to 3 students (depending on the total class number). The subjects and documents, as well as the class schedule, mentioned in the syllabus are only indicative and can be changed pursuant to the teacher’s ideas on the progress of the class. An important part of the class will be the individual artistic exploration by the students in class of the various cultural aspects discussed in class. Students will prepare art materials like 12 colours and a sketchbook further to instructions by the teacher. Photographs of the artistic works will be uploaded by the students to iLearning at the end of each class. NOTE: NCHU has a University Regulation that under its article 26, prescribes that students are not allowed to miss classes by one-third or more. This includes classes that are missed with approval in advance. On a 16 week schedule, that would mean missing 6 classes or more deserves a fail. The text in Chinese is as follows: 第二十六條: 學生各科目缺課時數達該全學期上課時數三分之一者，不得參加該科目之學期考試，該科目學期成績以零分計。總缺課時數累計達全學期所修各科目上課總時數三分之一者，應辦理休學。 The PDF file is linked here: https://share.google/XPrROckWDyPAASnw5.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)

Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives

Course Objectives

Competency Indicators

Ratio(%)

Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods

1. To provide a critical understanding of key issues of sustainability, the SDGs and active change.

2. To explore how sustainability can find expression in artistic activity and work.

topic Discussion/Production

Networking/Distance Education

Exercises

Discussion

Lecturing

Written Presentation

Attendance

Oral Presentation

Assignment

Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule

Week	Course Content
Week 1	Course Introduction Overview, Syllabus and Class Rules presentation, group formation, and initial topic exploration.
Week 2	What is Sustainability? Understanding the SDGs and higher education’s role. General Discussion, consideration of the role of art in sustainability
Week 3	SDG 1: No Poverty Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 4	SDG 2: Zero Hunger Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 5	SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 6	SDG 5: Gender Equality Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 7	SDG 7: Clean and Affordable Energy Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 8	Midterm Submit a recorded 5 – 10 minutes videotalk on what you have learned so far, submitted via I-learning on the Midterm day, latest by that day midnight.
Week 9	SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 10	SDG 10: Reduced Inequality Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 11	SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 12	SDG 13: Climate Action Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 13	SDG 15: Life on Land Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 14	SDG 16: Peace and Justice Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 15	SDG 17: Partnerships Group Presentation on, discussions, and artistic work related to this SDG.
Week 16	Endterm Submit an original (not AI) paper in print on any subject from the class, presenting on how you think the class work could help to promote sustainable living in Taiwan. Minimum 1000 words. To be submitted in final exam week class. In print only, no digital submission. No late submission allowed.
self-directed learning	02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia. View 5 (five) related short videos of approximately 15 - 20 minutes each on the subject of the class on YouTube.

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on the teacher’s impression of level of participation and overall performance in the class by the students.
Grades are calculated on the following basis:
40% Class participation through attendance, (group) presentations, assignments, active class work and discussions
30% Midterm: 5 – 10 min. video-talk presentation.
30% Endterm: 1000 words original paper in print.

Textbook & other References

Materials are multi-disciplinary.
Further readings depend on the selection of subjects and will be given by the teacher during the course of the class.

Check before class start:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website

TBA

Office Hours

TBA

Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)

01.No Poverty 03.Good Health and Well-Being 05.Gender Equality 07.Affordable and Clean Energy 08.Decent Work and Economic Growth 09.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 10.Reduced Inequalities 12.Responsible Consumption 13.Climate Action 15.Life On Land 16.Peace and Justice 17.Partnerships for the Goals

include experience courses：N

Please respect the intellectual property rights and use the materials legally.Please respect gender equality.
Update Date, year/month/day：2026/01/15 14:36:28	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 3 / 10
The second-hand book website：http://www.myub.com.tw/