News

Tohoku University President Hideo Ohno was in Taipei recently, for the 22nd Annual Presidents' Meeting of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). The event, which was titled "Our Digital Future in a Divided World," was held at National Taiwan University (NTU) from June 24 - 26.

As APRU comprises the region's leading education and research institutions, the annual presidents' meeting is an important event. This year, 27 university presidents were among the 111 participants in attendance. It was President Ohno's first APRU meeting since assuming the position of president in April.

On the first day, President Ohno participated in the welcome reception with Executive Vice President Toshiya Ueki, where he was able to strengthen existing ties and develop new relationships with other university presidents.

On the second day, President Ohno attended the introductory session on higher education and research policy settings in Taiwan. The session had a particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and Precision Healthcare presented by Dr. Pan-Chyr Yang, former president and chair professor at NTU's Department of Medicine.

President Ohno also sat in on panel sessions addressing the digital future and opportunities for partnership led by Professor Toby Walsh, Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, and Dean Peter Cowhey of the University of California, San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy.

The next APRU Annual Presidents' Meeting will be held at the University of California, Los Angeles from June 23 - 25, 2019.

APRU: Association of Pacific Rim Universities

APRU was founded in 1997 to create an association of premier research universities around the Pacific Rim region to foster cooperation in education and research in areas including but not limited to economic development, science and technology, human resource development, education and environmental protection. Currently there are 50 member universities from 16 countries and regions. Tohoku University joined in 2008 and served on the Steering Committee from 2015 to 2017.