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The NTNU School of Teacher Education held an exciting bilingual workshop on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change on September 7th, 2024. This event, conducted in English, brought together university students (future teachers), high school teachers and students, and students from Chiba University in Japan and focused on the impacts of climate change on Taiwan. Participants discussed potential solutions, considered the interests of different stakeholders, and explored sustainable climate actions they could implement in their own lives.
The workshop began with a keynote address in English by Dr. Hsin-chi Li, Deputy Director of the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NSTCDR). The presentation provided students with up-to-date scientific knowledge on climate change and its effects on Taiwanese society and the environment. It also introduced essential climate change vocabulary in English, which students later used during group discussions. Students, working in groups of four, were guided by teachers-in-training from NTNU or Chiba University, along with high school teachers. The teachers-in-training facilitated discussions, while the high school teachers provided guidance based on their classroom experience, helping students deepen their understanding and apply what they had learned.
At the end of the workshop, each group presented their proposed action plans through posters and oral reports. These plans included suggestions such as promoting sustainable urban development through initiatives like Sponge Cities and Green Buildings, reducing carbon footprints, and raising community awareness about climate change. The event not only inspired students to engage in social change but also gave them the tools to actively contribute to environmental sustainability.
Participants at the workshop included 65 students and 10 teachers from four schools: Taipei First Girls' High School, Taipei Municipal Yangming High School, Taipei Municipal Lishan High School, and Keelung Girls' Senior High School. Through the event, students developed skills in exploring issues and expressing their ideas in English, engaging in group discussions, situation analyses, case studies, and solution design, ultimately presenting their findings through posters and oral presentations.
The event helped bridge the gap between university and high school, strengthening dialogue and collaboration between NTNU teacher trainees and high school teachers, as well as fostering international cooperation in inquiry-based learning between NTNU and Chiba University. We hope to host similar events in the future, expanding our reach and encouraging more young people to join the movement for sustainable development as we work together to protect our planet.
Event organizers expressed their gratitude to Professor Junn Nomura, who led the team of participating teacher trainees as part of the Chiba University Twin College Envoys Program (TWINCLE), adding an international communication element to the event.