Yuan Ze University College of Management Launched the “Aquatic Plant Gene Ark” and Held the Final Restoration Achievement Exhibition

On December 18, the College of Management at Yuan Ze University held the “Aquatic Plant Gene Ark Unveiling Ceremony and Final Restoration Achievement Exhibition” for the Management course, officially opening the university’s on-campus Aquatic Plant Gene Ark.

The project integrated curriculum instruction with hands-on ecological action, involving 121 students enrolled in the “Management” course, who successfully restored 33 endangered aquatic plant species native to Taiwan. Among these was the Taoyuan Stonewort, categorized as Extinct in the Wild (EW), demonstrating a concrete accomplishment in higher education’s efforts toward sustainability and ecological conservation.

The Aquatic Plant Gene Ark was initiated by the College of Management, supported by Dean Min-Ping Huang, and guided by Professor Huai-Chieh Chen. The college collaborated with professional ecological partners, including Taoyuan Hoping Ecological Farm and Spring Swallow Ecological Farm, jointly establishing a campus ecological base with educational, conservation, and research purposes. Through an innovative teaching design, students not only studied management theory but also directly engaged in restoring endangered species, translating classroom knowledge into real-world action.

Min-Ping Huang emphasized that management education should not remain solely theoretical, but should also allow students to develop sustainability-oriented thinking and social responsibility through practical experience. She stated that the Aquatic Plant Gene Ark enabled students to learn project management, teamwork, and problem-solving within real contexts, embodying the educational philosophy of “learning by doing.” Huai-Chieh Chen noted that Taiwan’s native aquatic plants had long been impacted by habitat destruction, water pollution, and the invasion of foreign species, causing some species to disappear from the wild. The establishment of the “Gene Ark” not only provided a stable sheltering environment for endangered plants but also cultivated students’ motivation and capacity to act in ecological conservation.

The 33 aquatic plant species restored through the project covered multiple conservation status categories, including extremely critical (CR) species such as Taoyuan Stonewort, Taiwan Quillwort, Taiwan Spatterdock, and Longtan Water Celery, as well as endangered (EN) species, including Filiform Stonewort and Wild Ginger Lily. Many of these were endemic or native species that held strong ecological significance within the Taoyuan region. Huai-Chieh Chen explained that aquatic plants played key roles in regulating water quality and maintaining ecological balance, and their growth conditions served as indicators of environmental quality. Successful restoration signified that the aquatic environment was capable of supporting healthy ecological functions.

During the course, the 121 students were divided into 45 teams, each responsible for a specific plant species restoration task. Their learning process covered four major phases: understanding aquatic plants, planning restoration strategies, troubleshooting challenges during implementation, and promoting conservation philosophy. Students collected data, formulated restoration methods, and addressed issues such as habitat adjustments and pest control through teamwork and expert consultation.

In expanding the reach of conservation philosophy, students extended restoration advocacy beyond the campus, promoting awareness of aquatic plant protection among family members and community groups. They collected a total of 1,950 restoration commitment pledges, amplifying the project’s sustainability impact. Additionally, students utilized artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create informational videos and promotional posters for aquatic plants, enhancing public understanding of endangered native species.

During the achievement exhibition, outstanding teams from each class were selected and awarded certificates and prize funding. Award-winning students shared that by personally participating in restoration efforts, they deepened their understanding of ecological issues and realized how management thinking could be applied to solving environmental problems.

The project also integrated cross-disciplinary resources within the university. Professor Ching-Hai Wang and his team from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering assisted with water-quality monitoring and data management, establishing a scientific framework for restoration management. Min-Ping Huang emphasized that the Aquatic Plant Gene Ark was not only the result of a single course but also a long-term, sustainable education platform that would continue expanding to surrounding communities and schools in the future, aiming to build a regional network for aquatic plant conservation.

Yuan Ze University stated that the Aquatic Plant Gene Ark was already open to the campus community, and would undergo regular maintenance and management under the guidance of ecological professionals to ensure the stable growth of precious species. Through innovative teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration, the university sought to cultivate talents with sustainability-driven perspectives and the capability to act, contributing long-term support to the protection of Taiwan’s native aquatic plants.