Recently the International College co-organized an international Symposium with the School of Sustainability, Arizona State University (ASU), and the AZ-TW Society of Technology. The theme of the Symposium was “Achieving Sustainability through Innovation and Education,” which is in line with the core spirit of the entire International College. ASU was ranked No. 1 by the U.S. News & World Report on its “Most Innovative Schools” list for the second year in a row (that’s ahead of both Stanford University and MIT!) and its School of Sustainability is the first comprehensive degree-granting program of its kind in the United States. The Symposium began with an inspiring opening remark by Rep. Matt Salmon, ASU’s Vice President of Government Affairs and a former Congressman. Mr. Salmon told a number of stories about his role and continuous support of Taiwan throughout his five terms in U.S. Congress, where he served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific in his last two terms. Prof. Walter Den, Dean of the International College, also gave an opening remark as the representative from Tunghai University and the International College. The one-day Symposium also featured speeches by Profs. Dave Guston (Director) and Clark Miller (Associate Director) of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, and by Prof. Peter Lammers of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. Profs. Chih Chao and Hsin-Chiu Sung of Tunghai University also delivered speeches related to sustainable development. More than gaining a better mutual understanding between the two universities on both research and teaching fronts, the Symposium brought closer opportunities for academic collaboration between the International College and ASU’s School of Sustainability. The Symposium concluded in good spirits, with Prof. Walter Den and Prof. Christopher Boone, Dean of ASU’s School of Sustainability, signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the two schools that promises to bring more opportunities to our students in the International College.

Prof. Walter Den and Prof. Christopher Boone signing a Memorandum of Understanding for academic collaboration between THU International College and ASU School of Sustainability.