The Humanity Innovation and Social Practice (HISP) Project

The Humanity Innovation and Social Practice (HISP) Project, sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology since 2013, emphasizes on making humanity and social sciences an initiative to social change, leading to better living environments.

The HISP project has three objectives. First, it encourages universities to develop their distinguishing features by integrating academic research and social practice. Second, it aims to be the catalyst that urges academics and universities to take on social responsibilities. Third, it seeks to facilitate the reforms of academic evaluation and higher education accordingly.

There have been five universities carrying out HISP projects in different regions of Taiwan. They form partnership with local communities and respond to local demands and problems together. The major issues include indigenous cultural revitalization, aging in place, social economy, community-supported agriculture, and community empowerment.

NSYSU’s “Bay Shore Placemaking: Memory Representation and Innovative Transformation of the Transient Communities of Kaohsiung” project focuses on the three earliest developed coastal areas in Kaohsiung: the old port area, Zuoying District, and Caoya area in Cianjhen; resident researchers are dispatched to station in these places. These three areas have entered a transient stage due to the city development, and the problems they face include population outflow and aging, slow renewal of infrastructure, and lack of placemaking awareness. NSYSU is looking forward to initiating a placemaking movement in collaboration with these three communities, instilling the perception and creative energy to the local communities and helping them transform into a placemaking model with social innovative power.