National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) collaborated with General Electric (GE) to organize a two-day Energy Transition Workshop on Earth Day, April 23, 2023. Attendees included NSYSU students and faculties, the president and employees of GE Gas Power, and the consultants of Ernst & Young Global Limited accounting firm Taiwan. Besides, the representative of the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State participated in the workshop online and discussed the key topics together related to this year’s theme of “Invest in Our Planet” to support the energy transition, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and young talent cultivation.

The Office of Student Affairs of NSYSU and GE Corporation jointly organized the "Energy Transition Workshop" on Earth Day, sharing energy transition knowledge and global practical experiences through experts from industry, public sectors, and academia, cultivating international young talents in the form of expert seminars, panel discussions, and presentations. In addition to providing lectures, the workshop also enabled students the opportunities to produce and share diverse perspectives actively. This two-day workshop was conducted in English and empowered students to obtain a profound comprehension of prevailing global trends concerning energy and sustainable development goals (SDGs) to enhance students’ communication skills in English and support Taiwan’s goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The Office of Student Affairs of NSYSU stated that the workshop provided comprehensive lectures. Besides, students who fully participated in the workshop will also receive recognition of 1 micro-credit.

Natalie Shen, the officer of the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State, attended the event online to underscore the U.S. government’s policies and commitment to supporting Taiwan’s energy transition goals. Amol Mody, the President of Services at GE Gas Power Asia, presented the company’s global practical experiences and vision to create a sustainable development future. Mody emphasized the importance of innovation as a key enabler in solving the energy trilemma of sustainable, reliable, and affordable power. He also indicated the role young talents can play and the skill sets and knowledge needed as they prepare to join the workforce. “I am impressed by the quality of talents from the university and their passion and commitment to contributing to the country’s growth. This workshop cultivates the awareness and acumen of climate change, enables a path toward a lower carbon-emitting world in the future, and to attracts and recruits outstanding talents in Taiwan,” said Mody.

For the event, San-Pui Lam (林新沛), the Professor at the Institute of Public Affairs Management, and M.A. Mohammed Manaz, the Assistant Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering, discussed the trends of energy transition from the academic perspective and indicated the importance of cultivating innovative talents in colleges. The consultant of Ernst & Young Global Limited accounting firm Taiwan presented current net-zero emissions and sustainable energy policies. The Sales General Manager of GE Taiwan conducted the scenario planning and group discussion after explaining energy transition cases in Taiwan. To conclude the two-day workshop, NSYSU students presented and discussed their brainstorming thoughts on solving the electricity shortage problems in English. In particular, consider how Taiwan can increase power supply, reduce energy demand and consumption, and ultimately achieve zero-carbon-emission power generation in energy-intensive industries while gradually shutting down nuclear power plants.

News source: https://www.nsysu.edu.tw/p/406-1000-311261,r3244.php?Lang=en