National Chi Nan University Hosts the 2023 Taiwan-Japan University Presidents Forum and International Symposium

Following the successful hosting of the fourth Taiwan-Japan University Presidents Forum on July 26th this year, National Chi Nan University (NCNU) continued the momentum by holding the "2023 Taiwan-Japan University Local Connection and Social Practice Alliance Mayors' Meeting and International Symposium" on the 23rd. This event brought together 53 prominent university presidents and scholars from Taiwan and Japan. Beyond furthering Taiwan-Japan social practice exchanges, the symposium featured 33 academic paper presentations and 19 poster displays, fostering extensive discussions on university social responsibility and local revitalization.

The Taiwan-Japan alliance meeting saw significant participation from Japanese universities, including Kochi University President Katsutoshi Sakurai (Vice President of the Taiwan-Japan Alliance), who led a delegation of 5 professors; Vice President Yasuhito Hayashi of Shinshu University with 2 professors; President Takashi Iruzawa of Ryukoku University with 4 professors; and executives Makoto Watanabe and Masayuki Tsurugi from Chiba University. From Taiwan, NCNU President Wuu, Dong Sing, who is also the President of the Taiwan-Japan Alliance, led the entire faculty and student body in welcoming scholars from National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan Ocean University, Tunghai University, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chiayi University, National Taitung University, and National Pingtung University.

The theme of the symposium was "Practicing Resilient Societies: An Introspection and Exchange of Local Experiences of Taiwan-Japan Universities." It invited scholars engaged in local social practice at universities in Taiwan and Japan to share their research experiences and outcomes, deepening academic exchanges in local revitalization and social practice between Taiwan and Japan.

Recently, during a visit to NCNU, Professor Takeshi Okamura from Kochi University, along with Doshisha University's Kazumune Nakamichi, Chairman Masataka Fujimoto of the Central Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, and Chairman Go Kita of the Board, met with NCNU Vice President Hu Hsiu-Hwa. They agreed on future international internship collaborations, allowing NCNU students to receive professional training in Japan and showcase the performance of Taiwanese youth to the international community. They also discussed local revitalization activities and internship opportunities for students in Kochi Prefecture. NCNU's College of Management USR team will also lead students to Ryukoku University from October 2 to 7 for cross-national USR talent cultivation and technology exchange. Besides workshops, NCNU students will present case studies and share their views and suggestions on local revitalization with students from Ryukoku University.

President Wuu, Dong Sing noted that NCNU's recent first-place achievement in the USR University Civic Public General Medium-sized Universities category underscores its leading role in university social responsibility. Distinguished Professor Chen Dong-Sheng of the Ministry of Science and Technology's HISP Humanities Innovation and Social Practice Project emphasized that university social responsibility is a long-term government investment in local communities. He encouraged viewing it as a subsidy and a potential 20-year commitment, which will be worthwhile for government investment.