The 2025 Asian Universities Alliance Postgraduate Academic Forum on “Global Health in the Era of Digital Transformation” hosted by the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) at Seoul National University (SNU), was successfully held on February 7th and 8th, 2025.
This two-day event, centered around key theme of “Digital Transformation in Health,” with selected students presenting either posters or oral presentations on related research. It attracted 25 students from 7 AUA member universities, including Tsinghua University, Nazarbayev University, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Universiti Malaya, Universitas Indonesia, Chulalongkorn University, and Seoul National University.
Prof. Sun-Young Kim from CGHR inaugurated the event by underscoring the profound influence of digital transformation on global health. Prof. Tae-Jin Lee, Dean of SNU's Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), extended a warm welcome to the participants, emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the realm of digital health.
The forum presentations were categorized into three distinct sub-themes: Digital Health Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Policy and Governance in Digital Health Transformation and Case Studies in Digital Health: Lessons from the Field. During the keynote session, Prof. Ho Kim from SNU delved into the challenges presented by the digital age, while Prof. Seohyun Lee from Yonsei University offered valuable perspectives on conducting global digital health research.
Beyond its academic focus, the forum also incorporated rich cultural experiences. Students embarked on a tour of SNU's campus, indulged in traditional Korean cuisine, were treated to a spectacular performance by the “Yeominrak” music club, and explored the National Museum of Korea, deepening their appreciation of Korean heritage.
Overall, the forum brought together students from diverse nationalities and backgrounds to discuss global health advancements in the digital era. It facilitated in-depth discussions on the opportunities and challenges of digital health, creating a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere among future global health leaders.
