The Kyoto University Asian Studies Unit (KUASU), Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, hosted the 18th Next-Generation Global Workshop (NGGW) from 26 to 28 September 2025 under the theme "Visual Media in a Post-Growth Era".
This year's workshop received 43 applications from around the world and accepted 20 early-career researchers from universities in Indonesia, Thailand, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Korea, Taiwan, China, and Japan. Over the course of three days, they presented on a wide range of topics, including media culture and social transformation, social consciousness in representation, and well-being in a digital age.
The program opened with a keynote lecture by Professor Shi-Che Tang of National Chung Hsing University, titled "The Pipe of Dreams". Professor Tang addressed the intersection of energy and visual culture, focusing on the often-overlooked environmental impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the role of gas in Taiwan's cultural and social life.
The second day's evening featured a screening of "On X Day, a Woman Becomes District Mayor", followed by a lively Q&A session with the director, Peyounne Maki.
Throughout the workshop, many of the participants expressed appreciation for the opportunities it offered to broaden their perspectives and to build new connections across disciplines and national borders. The 2025 program thus served to reaffirm the significance of NGGW as a platform for fostering young researchers and encouraging international scholarly exchange.
As the organizer of this workshop, KUASU remains committed to promoting global academic collaboration and empowering the next generation of researchers to continuously expand their activities worldwide.
