National Chengchi University (NCCU), Seoul National University (SNU), and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) held the annual Joint Symposium on October 24–25 at the UTokyo. This year’s event was hosted by UTokyo, with NCCU’s delegation led by Hsiu-Hui (Shirley) Sun, Dean of the College of Communication, and I-Huei Cheng, Director of the Center for International Cooperation. The symposium was also an important part of the College’s efforts to advance internationalization and English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) initiatives, reflecting a continued commitment to strengthening international academic partnerships, developing students’ research skills, and enhancing international competitiveness.
This year’s symposium explored how advances in digital technology and shifts in the sociopolitical landscape are reshaping research questions, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks in communication studies. Discussions also examined the influence of communication technologies on social relationships, cultural practices, political participation, and everyday life. Representing NCCU were Professors Leticia Nien-Hsuan Fang and Yuhmiin Chang, along with five graduate students: Yun-Ping Chiang, Yu-Ching Yang, Heng-Long Chen, Huei-Wen Chen, and I-Chen Chiang. Students gained valuable experience in academic research and international exchange by presenting research in English and engaging in discussions with international scholars. These opportunities also helped strengthen cross-cultural communication skills and broaden international perspectives.
NCCU will host the 2027 Joint Symposium. During the symposium banquet, Dean Sun expressed enthusiasm for next year’s event and stated, “We welcome faculty and students from the University of Tokyo and Seoul National University to gather in Taiwan next year and continue deepening the academic collaboration and friendship among our three universities.”
On the second day of the symposium, faculty and students from all three universities visited the NHK Museum of Broadcasting in Tokyo. Featuring historical documents, early broadcasting equipment, and archival programs, the museum traces the evolution of Japanese broadcasting since radio transmissions began in 1925. The visit offered participants an opportunity to reflect on the role of media in shaping social change, preserving cultural heritage, and forming collective identities, particularly through the lens of public broadcasting and cultural memory. It also deepened participants’ understanding of broadcasting history and reinforced awareness of the impact and responsibilities of the communication profession in society.
The Joint Symposium was first established in 1996 through a collaboration between the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo and the Department of Communication at Seoul National University. NCCU’s College of Communication first participated as an observer in 2016 before officially joining in 2017. Since then, NCCU has hosted the symposium three times, in 2018, 2021, and 2024.
