2026 International Conference of New Praxis and Taiwan-Japan of Local Revitalization and Social Practice
Kizuna and Partnership: Sustainable Ties and Resilience Practice between Universities and Local Societies
〔 CONFERENCE INFORMATION〕
◤ Meeting Agenda｜
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VkQbolwHH0yJRbYSSKlNnx5cesWi09gVyefv6pGE2E0/edit?usp=sharing
◤Meeting Time｜September 1, 2026
◤Meeting Venue｜Conference Venue: College of Humanities and Social Sciences , National Taiwan Ocean University(No.2, Beining Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Keelung City 202301, Taiwan)
◤Checking Counter｜Ocean Hall (2F, Administration Building)
◤Meeting Venu｜Conference Venue: College of Humanities and Social Sciences , National Taiwan Ocean University
The 8th International Conference on New Praxis and the Taiwan-Japan University Alliance for Local Connection and Social Practice will be held at National Taiwan Ocean University, a venue uniquely situated at the confluence of mountains and sea. From the perspective of maritime history, the ocean has never been a barrier that separates different regions and cultures. Rather, it serves as an interface that facilitates cross-border flow and connectivity. This "flow" symbolizes the exchange of culture and the tides of emotion that ebb and flow across boundaries. Beneath these waves lies the "Kizuna" (絆), a bond as stable and profound as deep ocean currents.
In recent years, amid the waves of global demographic change and social transformation, the issues faced by local societies in Taiwan and Japan are no longer isolated or independent problems. Instead, they have increasingly become intertwined, forming long-term and structural challenges concerning the very survival of local communities. In this context, the role of universities entering local communities has moved beyond temporary external intervention and transformed into a form of “ongoing companionship.”
Like the tides of the ocean, such companionship represents a constant yet rhythmic presence. It is manifested not only through long-term on-site engagement in local communities but also in how universities utilize technological media to weave new forms of connectivity within spaces where the digital and physical intersect. Furthermore, through the promotion of international recurrent education for adults, learners across borders and generations can collectively become a new driving force that bolsters local resilience.
The Japanese term "Kizuna" depicts a resilient bond between people, while the Chinese terms "Peipan" (Companionship) and "Huopan" (Partnership) emphasize how universities establish a sustainable tie with local communities in an ever-shifting contemporary society. This tie represents a cross-generational, cross-organizational, and cross-cultural connection, allowing the innovative vitality of university knowledge to surge into local areas like waves, while the local knowledge accumulated by elders through their life experiences settles as a foundational bedrock.
This conference cordially invites scholars and practitioners from Taiwan and Japan engaged in social practice to jointly explore the following: How can universities, through fluid strategies of local engagement, transcend organizational silos to build platforms of trust via mutual listening and dialogue? Furthermore, how can the deep emotional resonance emerging across disciplines, organizations, and nations be transformed into a cornerstone of local resilience? We look forward to university partners and community practitioners from diverse local societies as they distill their practical experiences into knowledge through sharing and exchange, thereby collectively composing a new chapter of co-existence and companionship between universities and local communities.
〔Sign up〕
▎ Sign up here｜https://forms.gle/UobzUbee2e3MEbgQA
▎The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 9th, at 12:00 noon. We welcome friends who are interested in the topic to sign up and participate!
〔 NOTES〕
◤Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the sessions in the International Conference Hall.
◤Shuttle service between Nangang HSR Station and the venue is available for this event.
Departure | September 1 (Tuesday)
08:20 Meet at Nangang HSR Station and take the shuttle bus to National Taiwan Ocean University.
Return | September 1 (Tuesday)
17:30 Take the shuttle bus from National Taiwan Ocean University back to Nangang HSR Station.
※ If the number of participants requesting the return shuttle service on the day of the conference does not meet the minimum requirement for operation, the organizer will notify registered participants during the registration period. In such cases, the return shuttle service may be canceled or replaced with an alternative transportation arrangement. Please refer to subsequent announcements for the latest updates.
◤Parking information｜Parking at the venue is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis according to the order of registration. Once all parking spaces have been assigned, no additional parking will be available. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
◤If you have any questions, please contact us by email.
Contact Email｜hisp.newpraxis@gmail.com
▍Advisor｜Department of Humanities and Social Sciences， National Science and Technology Council
▍Host｜Humanity Innovation and Social Practice Coordination Project Office， National Science and Technology Council、Taiwan-Japan Alliance of Local Revitalization and Social Practice