On July 16, 2025, the Japan Committee of Universities for International Exchange (JACUIE) held the international conference “2025 Japan-Taiwan University Presidents’ Forum, The Future of the Region: Challenges of Universities in Japan and Taiwan in the Innovative Era.” Co-hosted with the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), the Forum was organized with Kumamoto University serving as the host institution. University presidents and other representatives participated from both Japan and Taiwan, with 97 participants from 48 institutions in Japan, including national, public, and private universities, as well as relevant organizations and 61 participants from 34 institutions in Taiwan. During the event, participants engaged in presentations and case studies, exchanged views and ideas, and shared information.

 

The opening remarks were delivered by Prof. NAGATA, Kyosuke, Chairperson of JACUIE and President of the University of Tsukuba; Prof. LI, Tsai-Yen, Chairperson of FICHET and President of National Chengchi University; Dr. LEE, Joyce Yu-Jiuan, Director General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education, Ministry of Education, Taiwan; Mr. IMAMURA, Daigo, Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department, Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association; Mr. CHOU, Shyue-Yow, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan; and Dr. OGAWA, Hisao, President of Kumamoto University, the host institution.

They expressed their sincere appreciation for the friendly relations between Japan and Taiwan and for all the organizational work for this Forum. They also pointed out that this Forum provides a valuable opportunity for further development of higher education on both sides.

Following the opening addresses, the MOU re-signing ceremony and the gift exchange were conducted by Prof. NAGATA, Kyosuke, Chairperson of JACUIE, and Prof. LI, Tsai-Yen, Chairperson of FICHET.

 

Then, Prof. WAKABAYASHI, Hideki, Distinguished Professor of Kumamoto University, delivered the keynote speech under the theme “The Future of the Region: Challenges of Universities in Japan and Taiwan in the Innovative Era.” His passionate and thought-provoking address emphasized that stronger cooperation between universities and industries in Japan and Taiwan and a redesign of the research and development model are needed.

 

Two  thematic sessions and two panel discussions were held.　The sessions focused on:　 “Student and Young Researcher Exchange” and “Industry-Academia Collaboration for Local Development.”　The panel discussions　followed, namely “The Role of Universities for Natural Disasters,” and “Digital Transformation in Higher Education.”　In each session and panel discussion, two universities from Japan and two universities from Taiwan presented their unique initiatives under these theme. Each presentation was followed by active Q&A and discussion, highlighting the strong mutual interest on both the Japanese and Taiwanese sides in the exchange of human resources in higher education and the role of universities in the region.

 

Prior to the panel discussions, Mr. KIMURA, Takashi, Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the local government.

 

Finally, in the closing remarks, Prof. TANIOKA, Ichiro, Vice Chairperson of JACUIE and President of Osaka University of Commerce, and Prof. Tzu-Bin Lin, Executive Director of FICHET, expressed their sincere appreciation to the organizers, the host university, all presenters, and participants. They concluded by affirming that the Forum had served as a meaningful platform that would contribute to the further development of academic exchange between Japanese and Taiwanese universities.