2024 NTU-KU-UHH Trilateral Symposium: Uniting for Sustainable Future and Next Generation

On November 18–19, the NTU-KU-UHH Trilateral Symposium successfully took place at the National Taiwan University (NTU) with the participation of delegates from Kyoto University (KU) and the University of Hamburg (UHH). This event marked a significant milestone in the longstanding partnerships among the three institutions. Themed “Next Generation Partnership Through Multi-Dimensional Cooperating Approaches – Towards a Sustainable Future,” nearly 100 participants engaged in two days of international and interdisciplinary discussions, including delegations of 40 members from Kyoto University and the University of Hamburg.

At the opening ceremony, NTU President Chen Wen-Chang welcomed the participation of faculty and students from Kyoto University and Hamburg University, expressing hopes that through cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue, the three universities could promote research with international impact and realize their shared vision of sustainable development and research excellence. President Nagahiro Minato expressed gratitude for the support of collaborative partners and looked forward to further cooperation in addressing global challenges. Vice President Jetta Frost emphasized that the forum would foster closer collaboration among the three universities and inspire young scholars to explore more opportunities for cooperation. Representative Katayama also extended their well-wishes for the forum, hoping that the collaboration among the three institutions would bring positive social impact and drive a better future.

Following the opening ceremony, a panel discussion was held focusing on career development in academic systems across different countries. The panel started with speeches delivered by three representatives from each university—NTU Vice President Shih-Torng Ding, KU Vice President Tetsuo Sakanishi, and UHH Vice President Jetta Frost, and it was followed by sharing from five speakers at various career stages. Those sessions provided profound insights for the scholars of the next generation looking to advance their careers.

The symposium entered its second day with parallel sessions covering five key topics: Renewable Energy, Environmental Studies, Well-being of Society, Healthcare Management, and Flood/Disaster Prevention, aiming to strengthen connections and promote future research collaborations among the participating universities.