TMU’s Open Education Excels: Nutrition and Entrepreneurship Courses Honored by Taiwan Open Education Awards

Source: College of Nutrition, Office of Global Engagement

Published on 2025-01-22

Taipei Medical University (TMU) actively integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles into its strategic plans.


Guided by its mission of “promoting the collective well-being of society through education and medical care,” TMU cultivates globally-minded medical and biotech professionals equipped with innovation and humanistic values.

Since 2020, TMU has embedded SDG concept into its curriculum, enhancing faculty and students’ awareness of sustainability issues and fostering social responsibility. To further these efforts, the university established the Office of Sustainable Development to promote energy transition and smart transformation, aiming to achieve low-carbon living and a green campus. TMU’s affiliated institutions have also excelled in advancing smart medicine and green healthcare. In addition to strengthening medical system resilience, TMU actively participates in global medical support programs, extending its expertise and sustainability practices to global communities. These efforts contribute to the sustainable development of global healthcare systems.

TMU received significant attention at the EdTech Taiwan exhibition on November 14, 2024, as two of its courses—Introduction to Nutrition and Food Safety and Workshop for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity—recognized in the Taiwan Open Education Awards for Excellence. The Taiwan Open Course and Education Consortium (TOCEC) is organizing the “2024 Taiwan Open Education Excellence Awards” to encourage educators to join the open education movement. This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ SDG Goal 4: ensuring inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education while promoting lifelong learning as part of the sustainable development goals.

Introduction to Nutrition and Food Safety, taught by Professor Jane C-J Chao from the College of Nutrition, received the Excellence Award in the Open Education Awards for Excellent Courses. This internationally certified continuing education course was launched on the platform in April 2018 and has since attracted 15,196 participants from over 200 countries. The course caters to all age groups with topics ranging from “the impact of nutrition on longevity” to “basic principles for an adult diet”. It provides a detailed exploration of nutritional needs for all stages of life, helping participants with a strong foundation in diet and nutrition concepts.

Additionally, the cross-university elective course Workshop for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity, taught by Professor Yi-Hsin Hsu from TMU’s School of Healthcare Administration, was recognized by the Open Education Awards for Digital Teaching Resource Application. The course, which serves an average of 300 students per semester, equips participants with a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship-related topics, inspiring and fostering the development of future entrepreneurial talents.