On December 5, the Six National Universities International Education, Research System (SixERS), directed by Okayama University Vice President SUZUKI Takayoshi (International Affairs and Alumni), co-hosted the 5th Joint Symposium with the Taipei University Alliance. The event was organized in collaboration with The Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan—comprising Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University, and Kumamoto University—and the Taipei University Alliance, which includes Taipei Medical University, National Taipei University of Technology, National Taipei University, and National Taiwan Ocean University.

The symposium was held at the Knowledge and Innovation Building with Integrated Networks in Okayama through Vibrant Exchange (KIBINOVE) on Okayama University’s Tsushima Campus and conducted in a hybrid format, connecting participants in Japan and Taiwan online. A large number of researchers and students attended both onsite and virtually.

Since signing an academic exchange agreement in June 2020, The Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan and the Taipei University Alliance have maintained close and friendly cooperation. The agreement was renewed in May this year. Under this continued partnership, the Joint Symposium has now been held for the fifth time.

At the opening ceremony, Okayama University President NASU Yasutomo delivered remarks on behalf of the six national universities. He explained that the symposium theme, “Towards Sustainable Societies: Greening Education and Nature-Based Solutions,” was selected in line with the principles of “ESD for 2030,” the international implementation framework for Education for Sustainable Development from 2020 to 2030. President NASU emphasized the responsibility of universities to advance this initiative and highlighted the importance of collaborating with local communities and partner institutions to pursue sustainable transformation. He then welcomed researchers and students representing the ten participating universities.

Following opening remarks by President WANG Hsi-Fu of National Taipei University of Technology, Professor FUJII Hiroki of the Faculty of Education at Okayama University delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Getting Asian Learners Climate-ready: A Transformative Initiative in Education.”

During the symposium, Ms. SEIMIYA Kotona and Ms. FUCHIGAMI Haruna, second-year students from the School of Agriculture enrolled in Okayama University’s Global Human Resources Development special course, served as student moderators. Ten researchers from the member universities of the two consortia presented their work. From Okayama University, Assistant Professor KATSUHARA Koki of the Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology delivered a presentation titled “How can we measure human-nature interactions and biocultural diversity?” Active discussions followed the various presentations related to the symposium theme, with lively exchanges among participants, including those attending online.

As a new initiative, a Youth Session was held following the symposium, bringing together students from all ten member universities. Building on the symposium discussions, students engaged in group dialogues on the question, “What can we do as students?” and shared their ideas.

Earlier the same day, prior to the symposium, a signing ceremony for a student exchange agreement between the two consortia was held. The Youth Session marked the first step in promoting student mobility under this newly signed agreement.

〇About The Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan
The Consortium was established in March 2013 for the purpose of further strengthening functions of education, academic research, social contribution, etc., and promoting human resource development and upgrading academic research to lead global society through cooperation among the six national universities, while respecting their independence and self-reliance.
〇About the Six National Universities International Education, Research System (SixERS)
An organization established within the Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan to promote international collaboration and cooperation among the six national universities. Okayama University Vice President SUZUKI Takayoshi (International Affairs and Alumni) serves as the director of the organization.

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Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors.