▎Global Outlook

Hosted by NTU’s Office of Student Affairs and organized by its student organizing committee, Global Initiatives Symposium Taiwan (GIS Taiwan) held its 14th Annual International Academic Conference for five days early this year at NTU.

GIS is dedicated to promoting academic research and creating a platform for interdisciplinary exchange. For this year’s conference, GIS took great pleasure in inviting established leaders and professionals from various fields to participate, including Guatemala’s Ambassador to Taiwan, Oscar Adolfo Padilla Lam, NTU medical scientist, Pan-Chi Yang, and Managing Director of STMicroelectronics Taiwan, Giuseppe Izzo. Additionally, NTU President Wen-Chang Chen, Vice President for Student Affairs Shi-Wei Chu, Vice President for International Affairs Hsiao-Wei Yuan, and President Jia-Yush Yen of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, also participated, showing strong support for the conference. Notably, conference goers included nearly 200 student delegates from 11 countries around the world!

Aimed to spark the participants’ imaginings of possible future worlds by exploring the present one, “Fragments of the Future” was the theme of GIS 2023. There were four related academic subtopics: “Energy Reform,” “New Paradigm of Healthcare,” “Currency Remodeling,” and “Metaverse.” During such conference activities as the Keynote Speech, Critical Sprout, and Impact Project, student participants had ample opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with the guest speakers, who are noted pioneers in their fields.

GIS stresses cultural exchanges as well as academic activities, so the Cultural Festival was a major highlight of this year’s event. Featuring such activities as cultural exchange booths, cultural performances, and the like, the participants had the opportunity to explore the distinct beauty of various cultures around the world. Representatives from the American Institute in Taiwan, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, and Czech Economic and Cultural Office also shared their professional advice about exchange programs as well as valuable related experiences in presentations and discussions with the student participants.

By hosting such high-quality international student symposiums, GIS Taiwan hopes not only to broaden the horizon of university students in Taiwan but also to leave a deep impression on the participants from abroad, increasing Taiwan’s visibility in the world and letting it shine on the international stage.