On 3 December 2024, the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES) held the Kyoto University International Symposium 2024 on Global Environmental Studies in Asia in a hybrid format, with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, serving as the main venue. The conference, entitled "Measures and Perspectives of Human Resource Development through International Environmental Cooperation", brought together 360 participants -- including researchers, students, and private-sector representatives -- from 48 organizations across 22 countries, mainly in Asia.
The event commenced with a video address from Kyoto University President Nagahiro Minato and in-person remarks from GSGES Dean Chihiro Tanaka, GSGES Professor Hirohide Kobayashi, who chaired the organizing committee, and RUA Rector Ngo Bunthan.
These were followed by two keynote speeches, one by GSGES Vice Dean Izuru Saizen and the other by RUA Vice Rector Huon Thavrak. The presentations showcased the institutions’ research achievements and future prospects as well as introducing an educational model focused on interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
Afterwards, early-career researchers and students presented posters based on three topics: (1) Environmental Technology, (2) Natural Resources, and (3) Global Ecology. The presenters then took part in Q&A sessions that fostered vibrant and diverse discussions.
The afternoon featured a panel discussion where representatives from five universities -- KyotoU, RUA, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, IPB University, Bandung Institute of Technology, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology -- actively shared their thoughts on the topic of enhancing educational curricula through inter-university collaboration. Following this, a collaborative session allowed participants to introduce research projects from their laboratories and institutions and to explore opportunities for cooperation. The day concluded with a poster awards ceremony, presented by GSGES Dean Tanaka, and closing remarks from RUA Vice Rector Huon.
The symposium effectively served as a platform for strengthening interdisciplinary and international networks, improving educational curricula, and advancing international collaborative research. It also provided a valuable opportunity for early-career researchers to gain new perspectives through research presentations and networking, laying the groundwork for cooperation toward a sustainable future.
