National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has successfully co-organized two international AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) workshops in Japan, in partnership with Realtek Semiconductor, marking a significant milestone in Taiwan-Japan academic collaboration and cross-disciplinary talent development.

From 27 April to 1 May, an NTNU delegation led by Vice President for Research and Development Prof. Cheng-Hung Lin traveled to Japan to deliver workshops at Kanazawa University and Osaka University. The initiative was made possible through Realtek Semiconductor's talent development program. It also received strong institutional support from both of the host universities in Japan. Both workshops were enthusiastically attended by faculty and students across multiple disciplines.

The workshops centered on hands-on AIoT technology training, covering foundational artificial intelligence concepts, data collection and annotation, model training, edge device deployment, and applied use of the Realtek Ameba development platform. Participants gained end-to-end experience in how AI technologies are implemented in smart devices and next-generation industries. The workshops effectively connected theoretical understanding with practical application.

Student-Led Delivery Showcases Taiwan's Educational Strengths

Prof. Lin was accompanied by six graduate students, who played an active role throughout the workshops. These students contributed to curriculum preparation and then served as instructors, teaching assistants, and technical support staff on-site. Their command of English, professional competence, and confidence in an international setting made a strong impression on Japanese partners, and demonstrated the quality of NTNU's graduate education.

Strategically Significant

Prof. Wen-Chung Kao, Dean of NTNU's College of Interdisciplinary Industry-Academia Innovation, outlined the broader significance of the initiative across four dimensions:

1. Internationalizing Taiwan's AIoT education by showcasing Taiwan’s strengths in technology pedagogy on a global stage;

2. Deepening long-term academic ties with top-tier Japanese universities;

3. Building students' international mobility, teaching competencies, and global employability;

4. Expanding the reach of industry-academia collaboration, enhancing the value of corporate talent development programs.

Associate Dean for Continuing Education Hui-Ling Sung played a central role in coordinating communications between the Taiwanese organizers and their Japanese counterparts. She noted that both Kanazawa University and Osaka University demonstrated exceptional commitment throughout the planning and execution process, which was an indication of their esteem for NTNU's educational expertise and talent development model.

The workshops have established a stronger cooperative foundation between NTNU and its two Japanese partner universities, opening new avenues for future collaboration in AI, smart technology, talent cultivation, and academic exchange.

Prof. Lin affirmed that NTNU will continue to leverage industry partnerships and international networks to develop further cross-border workshops and education programs. “Taiwan has a critical role to play in global AI and smart technology talent development,” he said, “and initiatives like this are how we build and sustain that influence.”

The AIoT workshop series held in Japan represents not only a successful international education exchange, but a demonstration of the combined strengths of Taiwan's higher education system, its industry-academia partnerships, and its growing capacity for meaningful global engagement.