"2023 AVA Symposium" – Focused on Sustainable Economy and Entrepreneurship with Educational Partners from 6 Countries and 8 Schools.
【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】
【Text and photos provided: Office of International Affairs, Hsu Yuan-Ju; Editing: Public Affairs Section.】
【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】
2023-12-26 National University of Kaohsiung recently held the "2023 Asia Virtual Academy International Symposium" on the 13th and 14th of this month. The central theme of the event was "Sustainable Economy and Entrepreneurship." The symposium coincided in person and online, with scholars from Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Japan, and other countries presenting their research findings. The event provided a platform for exchanging cultural characteristics and expanding international perspectives, fostering diverse communication.
The Office of International Affairs of NUK organized the symposium and marked the event's second edition this year. It was jointly hosted with Bicol University, the sister school in the Philippines, specifically by the College of Business, Economics, and Management.
Wu Hsing-Hao, the Dean of International Affairs, stated that in 2021, the establishment of the Asia Virtual Academy (AVA) aimed to invite like-minded domestic and international higher education partners. This initiative included collaboration with domestic institutions such as National Chung Hsing University and National Pingtung University, as well as sister schools in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Japan, and other countries. The goal was to promote the ideals of "international exchange," "expand students' international perspectives," and "respect and understand diverse cultures." Virtual symposiums or lectures were instrumental in overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wu Hsing-Hao mentioned that as the COVID-19 situation in various countries gradually improved, the symposium held in June marked the first simultaneous physical and online forum. Scholars and students from sister schools worldwide actively participated, generating enthusiastic responses. This year's upcoming event, the second edition, will focus on sustainable economy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Participants will share insights on a low-carbon society, green architecture, and green economy.
Wu Hsing-Hao emphasized that since the inception of AVA, four series of lectures and international symposiums have been conducted. One thousand two hundred fifty individuals have actively participated and obtained certificates, while the content has been viewed 36,410 times on the YouTube channel. The symposiums continue to deepen collaboration among the six countries and eight partner schools in the Asia Virtual Academy and provide participants with a rich academic exchange platform. Furthermore, they contribute to raising the visibility of Taiwan's education on the international stage.
The Director of the EMBA Center at NUK, Weng Ming-Chang, and the team led by Dimson Rivero, Dean of the CBEM at Bicol University in the Philippines, shared insights on various topics. These included innovation and entrepreneurship in both Taiwan and the Philippines, the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung, guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business sustainability plans in extreme climates, fair competition laws, social enterprises, and experiences in the economic and trade environment in the Philippines—the presentation aimed at providing a platform for sharing and comparing experiences in these areas.
The Office of International Affairs also arranged a visit for Dimson Rivero's team to the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung(亞灣新創園) and the Great Harbor Bridge in The Pier-2 Art Center, allowing them to witness the urban development in Kaohsiung. Dimson expressed that the collaborative model between industry, government, and academia in the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung is an excellent reference for the business and academic sectors in the Philippines. He indicated a willingness to explore further opportunities for deepening exchanges in innovation and startup industries between Taiwan and the Philippines.
---
#SDG8 #SDG12 #SDG17 @Office of International Affairs &Research