To align with national cultural heritage preservation policies and regional sustainable development while strengthening connections between higher education and local industries, National Chiayi University (NCYU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office under the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, on April 28. Through this partnership, the two institutions will integrate academic research, talent cultivation, and field-based practice to jointly promote the preservation of the Alishan Forest Railway’s cultural heritage and the development of industries along its route.
The collaboration focuses on seven key areas: the investigation, preservation, and adaptive use of forestry cultural heritage; railway environmental maintenance and soil and water conservation; tourism affairs, brand marketing, and international exchange; educational outreach and interdisciplinary talent cultivation; park management and planning of affiliated operations; forestry education and field-site development; and exchanges in administrative practices and professional capacity building. Through this comprehensive framework, the partnership aims to enhance the sustainable development of the Forest Railway, improve environmental safety along the route, and strengthen the administrative effectiveness of both institutions.
NCYU has long promoted its “Discovering Chiayi” micro-credit course, encouraging students to step beyond the classroom and engage in field-based learning. As part of this collaboration, sites along the Alishan Forest Railway, from Beimen Station to Alishan, will be incorporated into the curriculum. This initiative will establish a systematic framework for guided learning and research. NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that the university has established the Shuisheliao Learning, Research and Education Center adjacent to Shuisheliao Station on the Alishan Forest Railway. By drawing upon NCYU’s strengths in teaching and research and integrating the cultural heritage context of the Forest Railway, the Center seeks to bring the historical and ecological significance of the Alishan Forest Railway to life in Chiayi and open a new chapter in cultural sustainability. This endeavor not only fulfills NCYU’s commitment to University Social Responsibility (USR), but also transforms “Discovering Chiayi” into a knowledge bridge connecting younger generations with the heritage of the century-old railway.
The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office is dedicated to revitalizing railway assets to drive regional transformation and promote cultural revitalization along the railway corridor. Director Wang Chao-pao stated that the Alishan Forest Railway is not only a nationally significant cultural landscape in Taiwan, but also a “cultural artery” linking Chiayi with the mountainous region. With professional support from NCYU, the office will further transform railway assets into drivers of local sustainability, encourage community participation, and bring new commercial vitality and artistic energy to stations along the route. Through this collaboration, both parties aim to create a new model of cultural tourism that integrates forestry heritage, industrial linkages, and aesthetic design, generating brand value rooted in local identity while enhancing international competitiveness.
The signing of this MOU between NCYU and the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office not only demonstrates the university’s commitment to local engagement and national cultural heritage policies, but also paves the way for the cultural sustainability of the Alishan Forest Railway.
Photo 1: NCYU’s
Shuisheliao Learning, Research and Education Center is located adjacent to
Shuisheliao Station on the Alishan Forest Railway.
Photo 2: NCYU President Han-Chien Lin and Director Wang Chao-pao of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office pose for a group photo after the signing ceremony.