The Future University Project Office’s October 26 event facilitated valuable discussions on internationalization and educational innovation among universities across Asia, fostering fresh dialogues and collaborations for a more connected and innovative future in higher education.
NTU’s Future University Project Office, in collaboration with the Taiwan Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (TPOD), successfully hosted “NTU x TPOD Higher Education International Forum and Poster Exhibition: What’s Next – Future-Focused University” on October 26. Nearly 180 people attended the Forum and Exhibition in person, while about 150 others participated online, in order to discuss opportunities and challenges in international collaboration and innovation in higher education. Representatives from the University of Tokyo, Hitotsubashi University, Seoul National University, and Times Higher Education (THE) were invited to share their experiences from across the Asian higher education landscape. Moreover, at the TPOD Poster Exhibition, 15 universities showcased domestic achievements in “internationalized learning” and “student support systems.”
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Education Ping-Cheng Yeh emphasized the role of higher education in nurturing global citizens and encouraged universities to develop international partnerships. The forum’s rich agenda included a morning session on academic and teaching innovations, where speakers discussed the impacts of digitalization, globalization, and social change on higher education. They also shared strategies for enhancing the universities’ international competitiveness.
The afternoon session focused on two main themes: “Internationalized Learning” and “Student Support Systems.” In the session on internationalized learning, University of Tokyo’s Vice President Yuto Yaguchi, THE Director of Consultancy Vivian Lin, and NTU Associate Vice President Kuan-Hao Lee discussed ways in which universities can broaden students’ multicultural understanding and global perspectives. The University of Tokyo, for example, introduced its newly established GlobE Center and a cross-border collaboration project with the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, both designed to create diverse learning opportunities and foster international exchanges.
In the session on student support systems, Seoul National University’s Dean of the College of Liberal Studies Ban-Joo Kim, National Cheng Kung University Dean of Student Affairs Liang-Yi Hung, and NTU’s Interim Dean of the College of Design and Innovation, Sheng-Lin Chang, discussed how universities can support the students’ growth and adapt to the demands of contemporary learning environments.
Furthermore, international experts met with representatives from NTU’s Center for General Education, the Graduate Institute of National Development and International Affairs, and the Center for Population and Gender Studies to discuss possible academic collaborations and further dialogue.
Vice President Kaori Hayashi of the University of Tokyo, Hitotsubashi University President’s Special Assistant Hitoshi Aoki, NTU Vice President Shih-Torng Ding, and Dean of Academic Affairs Hong-Ren Wang discuss academic and teaching innovation strategies across Asia.
International guests visit the TPOD Poster Exhibition, gaining insight into developments in Taiwan’s higher education and creating opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration among universities.
Internationalized Learning Session: Exploring ways in which universities can enhance the students’ multicultural understanding and global perspective.
Student Support Systems Session: Ways to support students’ growth and meet the challenges of modern learning environments.