Chang Gung University of Science and Technology dials up social responsibility efforts

2021/09/17

Chang Gung University of Science and Technology in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City is making greater civic contributions as part of efforts by tertiary institutions around the country to accomplish more in the social responsibility stakes.
 
Case in point is CGUST’s Department of Cosmetic Science, which started working in 2010 with Taipei City-based Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation to improve the quality of life for those with facial disfigurements.
 
Chen Tsu-yin, an associate professor at CGUST, said the department is the only one of its kind in Taiwan teaching cosmetic camouflage techniques intended to reduce the appearance of marks or discoloration, aside from usual courses in skin care, bridal makeup and hair styling.

Teachers and students from the department have regularly visited the foundation over the past 11 years to teach individuals like Chuang Mei-chu the basics of professional makeup techniques. Once fearful of interacting with people due to burn marks on her face, Chuang said she feels so much more carefree in public now thanks to the skills acquired from CGUST.
 
According to Chen, the department is also focused on advancing U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by promoting SDG3: good health and well-being. Last year, the unit furthered its efforts in this regard with a new university social responsibility project aimed at designing prosthetic devices catering to individual needs in functionality and aesthetics.

Few enterprises in Taiwan are willing to produce custom prosthetics based on the user’s physical features like skin color and conditions of the stumps, which vary greatly from person to person, Chen said. Such a market is simply too small to attract serious attention, and this is where the university comes in, she added.
 
The university has co-developed four prosthesis production techniques and applied for related patents in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Big on breathability, lightness and pliability, the devices also have a lifelike appearance.
 
CGUST President Lau Ying-tung said other USR advances achieved by the department include launching a new course last year instructing students in the design and production of high-quality prosthetic devices.
 
Adjusting curriculums is essential to the success and sustainability of a school’s USR project, Lau said, adding that in this way, student’s needs and program implementation can be systematically cultivated.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)