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Taipei Medical University and Tohoku University Strengthen Partnership through Joint Symposium
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Taipei Medical University and Tohoku University Strengthen Partnership through Joint Symposium

10/1/2024 Secretariat
On September 18th, Taipei Medical University (TMU) and Tohoku University (TU) strengthened their partnership by hosting a comprehensive joint symposium. Led by TMU Chairman Ray-Jade Chen and President Mai-Szu Wu, a delegation of over 50 faculty members from five colleges visited Tohoku University, making it the largest bilateral and multidisciplinary symposium in TMU’s history.

This visit aimed to deepen the existing collaboration and explore new avenues for academic cooperation and research. By fostering in-person exchanges and strengthening ties, both universities seek to enhance their international competitiveness.

Tohoku University, one of Japan’s nine imperial universities and the third oldest, is renowned worldwide for its research. Ranked 107th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and consistently topping the THE Japan University Rankings for three consecutive years, Tohoku has garnered international recognition for its academic excellence. The university is particularly celebrated for its contributions to materials science. Notable alumni include Nobel laureate Koichi Tanaka and Chinese literary giant Lu Xun. Tohoku University is also the first “International University of Excellence” certified by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The collaboration between TMU and Tohoku University dates back to 2006. The partnership has grown significantly over the years, encompassing various fields such as Nutrition, Pharmacy, Medicine, Oral Medicine and Humanities and Social Sciences. On May 2nd, 2024, the two institutions signed a university-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a student exchange agreement, solidifying their long-term partnership. After nearly a year of discussions, a fruitful and solid collaboration has been successfully established.
    

On September 19th, presidents of both universities convened for a meeting to discuss future collaborations. Twelve officials from Tohoku University attended the meeting, including President Teiji Tominaga, Executive Vice President for International Affairs Toshiya Ueki, Executive Vice President for Research Asako Sugimoto, Executive Vice President for Medical Care Hideo Harigae, Dean of Graduate School of Agricultural Science Haruki Kitazawa, Dean of Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Takayuki Doi, Dean of Graduate School of Dentistry Ken Osaka and Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Letters Toshiaki Kimura.

From TMU side, ten executives attended the meeting, including Chairman Ray-Jade Chen, President Mai-Szu Wu, Executive Vice President Luisa Shu-Ying Chang, Dean of College of Nutrition Rong-Hong Hsieh, Dean of College of Oral Medicine Hsin-Chung Cheng, Dean of College of Pharmacy Wei-Chiao Chang, Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences Chung-Hsi Lee, Dean of Office of Global Engagement Jane C.-J. Chao and Deputy Dean of Office of Business Development Tsung-Chun Lee. After the remarks from both Presidents, the participants discussed a wide range of topics, exchanged gifts and posed for group photos.
    

Following the presidential meeting, a special session on “AI in Medicine” featured keynote speeches by Chairman Chen and Dr. Shinya Sonobe from Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Medicine. Chairman Chen’s speech, titled ‘Reshaping the Future of Healthcare with ‘Gen’ Medicine,’ envisioned a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into daily life. By leveraging generative AI, doctors can proactively predict and prevent diseases, shifting the focus of healthcare from treatment to comprehensive health management. Both speeches were met with careful listening and enthusiastic questions from Taiwanese and Japanese scholars in attendance, resulting in a lively exchange of ideas.


The subsequent joint symposium kicked off with a session on “Designing Foods for the Future,” organized by TU’s Graduate School of Agricultural Science and TMU’s College of Nutrition. President Teiji Tominaga of Tohoku University and President Mai-Szu Wu of Taipei Medical University delivered opening remarks to a packed house. Following the speeches, nearly a hundred attendees, including executives from both universities and faculty members participating in the symposium, gathered in front of Tohoku University’s Sakura Hall for a group photo. Tohoku University deployed a drone to capture this precious moment in the history of bilateral symposiums.

This symposium marks a milestone in the strategic alliance between TMU and Tohoku University. Both institutions have committed to regular interaction and cooperation, expanding their collaboration through joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and further symposiums. TMU and Tohoku U aim to achieve mutual benefits and contribute significantly to the global academic community.

  

Source: Office of Global Engagement