To empower nonprofit organizations (NGOs) with data-driven thinking and skills, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has been running the "Data Empowerment for Social Innovation" initiative for two consecutive years. This project includes training courses, customized mentoring, and networking activities. For the first time, MODA extended its collaboration with academic institutions by partnering with the Graduate Institute of Social Work at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) and the Department of Information Management at Fu Jen Catholic University (FJU). Together, they piloted the "Data-Inspired: Social Innovation Talent Program," aiming to cultivate students' abilities in data innovation, foster civic responsibility, and assist NGOs in developing data competencies, laying the foundation for a thriving nonprofit ecosystem in Taiwan.  

Recognizing the lack of data professionals in the nonprofit sector, MODA seeks to address this gap by integrating innovative approaches to cultivate talents. In the Fall semester of the 2024 academic year, MODA worked with NPUST and FJU to develop a training program for Charity Innovation that combines academic interdisciplinary expertise and creativity from Generation Z with the practical needs of local organizations. The program tasked students with designing data solutions for NGOs while participating organizations provided feedback to refine and implement these solutions. 

Under the guidance of Associate Dean Chung-Shen WU of FJU's College of Social Sciences, Assistant Professor Ya-Wen Lin from the Department of Information Management led a course that attracted students from various disciplines. The course tackled real-world challenges presented by NGOs, including the Lishin Foundation, New Taipei City Homelesshome, Shing Yi Charity Foundation, and the NTHTA. Using participatory design methods, students developed solutions such as a "Case Collaboration Management System," a "Smart Dispatch System for Accessible Transportation," and a "Sustainable Food Management Platform" to address issues in resource management, data application, and process optimization. The organizations provided feedback based on their experiences, enabling students to co-create grounded and impactful solutions. Assistant Professor Lin noted that students' information system project proposals offered tangible benefits to grassroots organizations.

At NPUST, Dean Shu-Twu Wang and Chair of the Department of Industries Management,  Professor Cheng-Pin Ho, designed a Master's program on "Nonprofit Organization Management." The program created a collaborative platform among government, academia, and industry to teach students how to leverage digital tools and data analytics to optimize service delivery and management journeys. Targeting government partners such as the Pingtung County Department of Social Affairs, local charity group associations, and in-service students, the course emphasized the importance of collaboration in managing resources like donation platforms. The program demonstrated the critical role of data-driven management in building safety nets for vulnerable families and fostering partnerships between local organizations and government agencies. MODA highlighted these pilot programs' success, showcasing how data-driven approaches can enhance service effectiveness and operational efficiency for NGOs. The creativity and flexibility of academic institutions proved instrumental in fostering collaboration between students and nonprofits, establishing a solid foundation for cultivating data talents in the nonprofit ecosystem.

The "Data Empowerment for Social Innovation" initiative has already garnered recognition, receiving the 2024 IT Matters Awards for Social Impact Projects. Through academic collaborations, MODA has demonstrated the power of combining data literacy, social responsibility, technology, and domain knowledge to drive public service innovation in the age of collective intelligence. MODA hopes to inspire more academic institutions to design data-focused courses for the nonprofit sector, paving the way for widespread adoption of data-driven innovation. MODA also invites stakeholders from all sectors to support NGOs on their digital transformation path.