Our team participated in the International Symposium on Social Prescribing at Kyoto University. Through poster presentations, forum discussions, and post-session dialogues, we engaged in in-depth exchanges with international experts and practitioners, gaining insight into global trends and practical experiences in the field of social prescribing. During the symposium, the team from the University of Taipei shared experiences and engaged in discussions with experts, scholars, and practitioners from countries such as Portugal, Canada, the UK, and Japan. Despite differences in institutional frameworks, healthcare systems, and community cultural backgrounds, a shared focus emerged: how to foster connections between the healthcare system and the realms of community, culture, the arts, the natural environment, and daily life—particularly as loneliness, chronic illness, dementia, caregiving stress, and social isolation become pressing contemporary health challenges. Through this international exchange, the team from the University of Taipei shared Taiwan’s practical experiences in implementing social prescribing—covering aspects such as urban and rural settings, collaboration between healthcare and community sectors, university-led social engagement, and local NGO networks—while also exploring future directions for the field alongside international partners. This exchange highlighted the University of Taipei’s role in the research, development, and practice of social prescribing; the university not only engaged in international dialogue but also identified potential avenues for future collaboration based on the implementation experiences of various countries. Following the conference, the team has maintained ongoing communication with counterparts at Kyoto University, progressively deepening the ties between Taiwan and Japan regarding research, education, community practice, and cross-border collaboration in the field of social prescribing. Through the exchanges at this international symposium, the team has gained a deeper understanding that social prescribing is not merely a mechanism for resource referral, but a practical model for reimagining the relationships between health, community, and people. Moving forward, the University of Taipei will continue to collaborate with international partners to advance social prescribing in Asia and explore innovative models tailored to local cultures and needs.

Implemented by Center for Teaching and Learning Development
Date: 2026/05/27-2026/05/28