OMU News

From June 22 to 26, 2026, Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) welcomed 30 students and three faculty members from the College of Management at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) for the five-day program, Global Economy and Opportunities: Rethinking Taipei Through Osaka’s Urban Lens. The program was planned by the Academic Program Design Team, led by Vice President Takaaki Shigematsu. By combining lectures at Morinomiya and Abeno Campuses with fieldwork activities, participants could deepen their understanding of Osaka’s society, economy, and culture.

OMU faculty members delivered lectures entirely in English on a variety of subjects, with topics including postwar anime, traditional Japanese culture viewed through the Job-to-Be-Done theory, and the future of medical big data in business. In addition to the lectures, participants took part in fieldwork activities that provided insights into the management philosophy and business operations of Japanese companies, as well as into Osaka’s history, industry, and urban development.

On the final afternoon, the NTNU students gave group presentations reflecting on the similarities and differences between Japan and Taiwan, as well as the new perspectives they had gained through the fieldwork. At the end of the session, Vice President Shigematsu presented certificates of completion to the students, marking the successful conclusion of the program.

The program was conducted in collaboration with OMU’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative. The NTNU students attended regular classes and participated in group work with OMU students enrolled in COIL courses and the Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING) Program. SPRING students also helped with the operation of the program, creating valuable opportunities for students from both universities to interact and broaden their international perspectives.

OMU and NTNU plan to expand their academic exchange activities through future inbound programs. Furthermore, OMU’s SPRING student overseas program to NTNU, which has been implemented over the past two years, is currently under consideration for the current academic year.

These exchange initiatives strengthen OMU’s partnership with NTNU and enhance opportunities for international learning and collaboration among students and faculty members.

Group photo after the certificate presentation ceremony

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