2025-12-18
College of Communication Hosts ImaginAsia 2025, Highlighting Cross-Cultural Creativity and Asia-Pacific Collaboration
Hosted by the Department of Communication at National Chengchi University (NCCU), ImaginAsia 2025 took place from 18–21 November under the theme “Crossing Borders: A Journey of Discovery.” Bringing together partner universities from Japan and Thailand—including Meiji University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Silpakorn University, Dhurakij Pundit University, and Chiang Mai University—the program featured workshops, cultural walks, screenings, and collaborative academic activities. During the event, Dean Yang’s visit to NCCU’s Department of Communication underscored the Department’s leadership in Taiwan’s communication field and its expanding role in shaping innovative cross-Asian academic exchanges.
Reflecting on the event, Dean Yang Yunho observed notable differences in academic culture between Korea and Taiwan. “At NCCU, I was deeply impressed that many presentations were student-led, unlike the usual format at Dongguk University where a single student represents each group,” he shared. Visiting Taiwan for the first time, he remarked on the island’s unique sociocultural landscape: “Taiwan’s political and economic contexts are complex, yet people live with remarkable stability and calm. The character of an island—strong, resilient, and deeply self-aware—is something I also recognize from Jeju.”
Dean Yang noted that NCCU’s Department of Communication differs significantly from Korean programs, offering a broader and more interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates visual arts, media theory, and cultural studies. Coming from a more specialized arts‐based system, he felt the two approaches were complementary and that many students would value NCCU’s wider academic scope. “This visit has reshaped my understanding of communication education in Taiwan,” he added. “I look forward to more workshops and student exchanges between our institutions.”
Discussing future collaborations, Dean Yang highlighted the complementary strengths of NCCU and Dongguk University. While Dongguk emphasizes film, theater, and multimedia creation, NCCU’s Department of Communication integrates cultural studies, innovation, and media theory—an intersection that opens valuable opportunities for student exchanges and joint research initiatives.
The ImaginAsia initiative, first launched in 2009, was founded on the vision of fostering academic exchange, collaborative teaching, joint research, and creative dialogue among Asian universities. Its core aim is to encourage mutual observation—“gazing” and “being gazed at”—across Asian societies, highlighting the region’s cultural diversity while gradually sketching an ever-shifting, multilayered, and richly textured portrait of Asia.
Dean Yang concluded that ImaginAsia 2025 broadened his perspective on how cultural exchange shapes creative futures. “Cultural shifts influence all related art forms,” he stated. “For students, understanding diverse cultural narratives is indispensable.” He emphasized that his visit to NCCU’s Department of Communication highlighted the Department’s distinctive and innovative approach to international engagement. The event further demonstrated how NCCU’s Department of Communication continues to create meaningful cross-cultural opportunities, offering students and faculty rich and dynamic global learning experiences. NCCU and its partners look forward to expanding collaborative programs that inspire ongoing intercultural creativity and exchange.