The Network for Education and Research (NERPS) at Hiroshima University partnered with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in hosting the NERPS Conference 2023 from February 28 to March 3, 2023 in Thailand. This was the second international conference organized by NERPS following the success of the first Hiroshima International Conference on Peace and Sustainability (HICPS) held at Hiroshima University in 2022.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Interim President of AIT, welcomed the participants and shared the sustainability initiatives of AIT. Mr. Yuichi Oba, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister (Economic Affairs), the Embassy of Japan in Thailand then gave his remarks about the significance of the conference in facilitating dialogue about various global issues. Following that, Prof. Shinji Kaneko, Executive Vice President and NERPS Director, Hiroshima University / Conference Chair, highlighted the value of the conference in bringing people together to share ideas pertinent to peace and sustainability. In addition, he underscored the role of NERPS as an international hub in bridging and interlacing various stakeholders.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Dr. Suwit Khunkitti, and Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia, and the Pacific (ESCAP) delivered the keynote speeches.
Concluding the conference was Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President (Academic Affairs) of AIT, who encouraged the delegates to further strengthen the connections they made at the conference in order to achieve peaceful and sustainable societies. During the closing ceremony, Prof. Dhakal, together with conference co-chairs Prof. Ayyoob Sharifi and Dr. Dahlia Simangan of Hiroshima University, also presented the three best paper awards and three best presentation awards to selected students/early-career researchers.
Best Paper: Disentangling Environmental Justice Dimensions of Urban Green Spaces in Cities of the Global South
Best Paper: Developing a GIS-based Agro-ecological Model for Sustainable Agricultural Production in Arid and Semi-arid Areas: A Case of Kerman Province, Iran
Best Paper: Investigating the Sustainability of Resource Flow and Productivity Transition in Ghana: Integrating MFA and DEA Malmquist Productivity Index Approach
Best Presentation: The Impact of Migration Acculturation Strategies on Self-continuity: A Case study of Thai Skilled Workers in Japan
Can Mandatory Non-Financial Information Disclosure Benefit Companies? Evidence from Hong Kong Environmental, Social, and Governance ESG Disclosure Policy
Best Presentation: Trade and Plastic Pollution in Southeast Asia
There were 187 researchers, practitioners, and students from 69 universities from 24 countries who participated in the conference. This includes 33 eligible students who received conference scholarships.
The conference accommodated a total of 139 oral presentations across 37 sessions, including panel discussions, roundtables, and workshops. Eight universities and institutions contributed as partners to the success of this conference by organizing and facilitating sessions.
The Institute for Economics & Peace also held a Positive Peace workshop as a side event on the final day of the conference.
The 3rd conference is scheduled to be conducted at Hiroshima University from March 6–9, 2024, with the theme, Navigating Peace and Sustainability in an Increasingly Complex World.
The NERPS 2023 Conference was generously supported by sponsorships from Columbia University, MDPI Japan, and the Embassy of Japan in Thailand. Conference partners include Kyushu University Urban Research Center, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Elsevier, Columbia University, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Earth System Governance, Institute of Environmental Studies at Chulalongkorn University, and the Graduate School of Global Studies at Thammasat University.
Testimonials from our NERPS 2023 Conference
The NERPS Conference has given me tremendous opportunities to present my research and get it published. I am honored that I was one of the best paper awardees at last year’s conference and contributed to my chapter for the book series, “Integrated Approaches to Peace and Sustainability”. I am looking forward to publishing more academic works either with NERPS or the networking I had from the NERPS 2023 conference.
Anna Christi Suwardi (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)
Though sustainability is usually associated with only environmental and climate issues, it can also be highly related to sustainable cities and communities, educational coloniality, and biodiversity and ecosystems which this program offered. [Bringing] back the experiences to Asia has become the major takeaway for me to participate [in NERPS2023]. The diversity of the participants and speakers from varied countries also provided an opportunity for mutual learning, from online to offline, from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
Ross Cheung (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
As a researcher, attending conferences is crucial for staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the field and for networking with other experts. NERPS 2023 offered unique opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow researchers, engage in meaningful discussions, and learn from others’ experiences. I am confident that the knowledge and insights gained at this conference will not only enhance my own work but will also have a positive impact on the broader research community.
Dr. Sami Ullah (University of Central Punjab Lahore, Pakistan)
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