Presidents of the Top Asia-Pacific Universities Address the Challenges of the Digital Future
June 24, 2018
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Taipei, June 24, 2018 — Thought leaders from academia, business, and public policy have begun to arrive today in Taipei for the 22nd APRU Annual Presidents’ Meeting.

Chaired by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and hosted by National Taiwan University (NTU), the meeting’s theme is “Our Digital Future in a Divided World.” The three-day APM will focus on the state of play in this fast-evolving digital landscape, analyzing the deriving opportunities and risks for research universities. 16 invited speakers and over 77 delegates from 17 economies will provide overviews of critical developments and frame urgent questions for artificial intelligence and data science.

APRU is a consortium of 50 leading research universities located across the Pacific Rim.

Its members include the world’s most advanced technological leaders in artificial intelligence and data science, who together, with thought leaders from business and public policy, are tasked to ensure that our societies are equipped educationally for the changes in employment, social interaction, and the role of citizens.

“We are delighted that our APM is a platform where overviews of critical developments are provided and the urgent questions are framed,” says APRU Secretary General Christopher Tremewan.

“The APM aims to ensure that the benefits of automation, big data, and information and communications technology are shared among all in society and that powerful new technologies are used to solve global challenges, such as climate change, human health, and sustaining the ecosystem,” he adds.

The APM will be opened on June 25th by NTU interim President Tei-Wei KUO, and APRU Chair, Chancellor Gene D. BLOCK, UCLA.

Panels that day will be moderated by Financial Times’ Asia Technology Correspondent, Louise Lucas, under the themes “Our Digital Future in a Divided World” and “Our Digital Future and Opportunities for Partnership.”

Topic overviews will be presented by Professor Toby Walsh, Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence, UNSW Sydney; Professor Peter Cowhey, Dean, School of Global Policy and Strategy, and Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Communications and Technology Policy, UC San Diego, respectively.

On June 26th, the Presidential Forum panels under the themes “Public Trust and the Changing Role of Universities” and “Our Digital Future in a Divided World: Opportunities and Challenges for Research Universities” will be moderated by University World News Asia Director Yojana Sharma.

The topic overview on public trust and the changing role of universities will be presented by President Michael Schill, University of Oregon.

The APM is expected to produce a joint statement by APRU presidents, emphasizing that universities are the laboratories for developing new knowledge and innovation and thus all have a stake at advancing technologies efficiently in a manner that benefits societies.

It is our pleasure to note that NTU hosts the 22nd APM along with its 90th anniversary.

NTU has been a member since APRU was established in 1997 and has been actively participating in various APRU meetings and organizing multiple international conferences and workshops.

National Tsing Hua University, also in Taipei, is one of seven of APRU’s newest members, will host a tour of its campus to showcase its comprehensive research capacities. NTHU consistently ranks as one of the premier universities in East Asia, and is widely recognized as a leading incubator for future leaders.