NUK Sustainability Report

2026-06-09

What can artificial intelligence (AI) do? At the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), students are exploring answers through projects that address real-world challenges—from supporting seniors coping with the loss of beloved pets, to simplifying complex food labels, and transforming agricultural waste into sustainable food packaging materials.

This semester, NUK’s Center for Teaching and Learning Development (CTLD) and Innovation Academy launched the interdisciplinary course “Cross-Disciplinary Practice in Artificial Intelligence Technology.” The course brought together 13 faculty members from five colleges and engaged 36 students who formed interdisciplinary teams to complete nine innovative projects. Their work demonstrated that AI is no longer solely a tool for engineering and computer science; it is becoming an important platform for cross-disciplinary innovation and social impact.

Chih-Hung Chang, Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the CTLD, noted that AI is increasingly becoming a fundamental competency across all professions. Future talent development, he emphasized, can no longer be confined to a single discipline. Instead, students must learn to integrate knowledge across fields and apply technology to solve complex problems.

Through cross-college teaching and interdisciplinary project-based learning, NUK seeks to help students from diverse academic backgrounds discover how their expertise can intersect with AI while developing the creativity and practical skills needed to address future industrial and societal challenges.

Course coordinator Chih-Hung Wu, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the AI Research Center, described the program as a pioneering educational experiment. The course not only brought together faculty from different disciplines but also encouraged students from diverse academic backgrounds to collaborate on shared projects.

Wu explained that while the final presentations showcased impressive outcomes, the most valuable aspect of the course was the students’ growth throughout the process. From forming teams and refining ideas to overcoming challenges and completing their projects, students experienced the realities of interdisciplinary collaboration. He emphasized that while AI tools continue to become more accessible and powerful, the qualities that remain irreplaceable are human creativity, critical thinking, and professional expertise.

The course concluded with a final project showcase on June 8, where faculty members served as judges. Student teams presented projects spanning emotional support, food safety literacy, circular economy solutions, smart tourism, health promotion, financial management, and workflow automation.

AI for Emotional Support and Pet Loss Recovery

One project, “Warm Shadows,” focused on the emotional needs of older adults and empty-nest individuals coping with the loss of companion animals. The team developed an AI-powered emotional support and memory preservation application that integrates generative AI, augmented reality (AR), and safety monitoring functions.

The platform recreates memories and interactions with beloved pets, enabling users to revisit meaningful moments and receive emotional companionship through technology. The project explores how AI can contribute to emotional well-being and psychological support.

Turning Agricultural Waste into Sustainable Packaging

Another team, “Bananas for a Better Future,” approached sustainability through circular economy principles. Recognizing the large volume of banana pseudostem waste generated annually in Taiwan, the students proposed converting agricultural byproducts into biodegradable materials and completely plastic-free food-safe packaging.

The concept is supported by an intelligent supply chain management platform that tracks resources from agricultural waste collection through packaging production. By combining AI and data-driven management tools, the project aims to improve resource efficiency while contributing to waste reduction and net-zero emission goals.

Making Food Labels Easier to Understand

Food safety was another major area of focus. The “NutriDecode Lab” team developed an AI-powered food label interpretation platform that uses image recognition and generative AI technologies to translate complex ingredient lists and technical food terminology into clear, easy-to-understand explanations.

The platform is designed to help consumers make more informed decisions and strengthen food literacy by making nutritional and ingredient information more accessible to the general public.

Diverse Applications Across Everyday Life

Other student teams explored AI applications in a wide range of practical fields, including:

• Flight Hunter – Smart travel planning and airfare analysis
• AI Review Analysis and Response System – Automated customer feedback management
• Green Circular Cigarette Butt Recycling System – Promoting circular economy solutions
• Level Up While Sitting – Health promotion and wellness support
• Smart Wallet – Personal financial management
• n8n Workflow Automation System – Streamlining business and personal workflows

Collectively, these projects demonstrate how students are leveraging interdisciplinary knowledge and AI technologies to address everyday challenges, respond to social issues, and create innovative solutions with real-world impact.

The showcase highlighted NUK’s commitment to integrating AI education with sustainability, social innovation, and practical problem-solving, preparing students to become future-ready professionals capable of applying technology in meaningful and responsible ways.

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@Center for Teaching and Learning Development & Innovation Academy / Events