Page 1 - Beyond COVID-19

February 19 2021 Online Colloquium
Host: Co-organisers:

Students from The University of Tokyo, Kyushu University and Varsity students of the Chinese University of Hong Kong joined an
online colloquium Beyond COVID-19 on February 19 2021.

Editor's Note: Rethink Recover Rebuild Beyond COVID-19

n February 19, the University of Tokyo, Kyushu Univer- “Beyond COVID-19” is the first joint event co-held by the
Osity and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) University of Tokyo, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
held an online colloquium, “Beyond COVID-19”, to rethink the and Kyushu University. The formal online colloquium comes
impact of the pandemic and what we can do for our future. after a trial event by CUHK, the University of Tokyo and
Kyushu University in November 2020. During the trial, stu-
The pandemic has gripped the world for over a year. During dents from CUHK shared their reporting experiences about
the colloquium, Professor Jeff Hou from the University of protests triggered by the anti-Extradition Law Amendment
Washington, Professor Edward Vickers from Kyushu Univer- Bill movement in the city and the introduction of National
sity, and lecturer Agnes Lam from CUHK delivered speeches Security Law.
that look into civic resilience, education prospect and surviv-
ing infodemic under the pandemic. The colloquium on February 19 marks our first time having
breakout room discussions with students from different
Free-flowing exchange of experiences and thoughts among countries and regions across East Asia to actively connect
students flourished. Journalism majors from CUHK shared with each other beyond societal norms. Conversations
their stories of reporting during the pandemic in South allowed students to share their individual and unique
Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. They explored issues experiences, as well as to know more about situations other
including how the elderly are coping with the pandemic in people are facing. Topics such as the balance between
South Korea, mainland Chinese students’ dilemma of using privacy and outbreak preventive measures, racial discrimina-
VPN and how international students worldwide are coping tion amid pandemic, as well as vaccine concerns were also
with late night online lectures. fruitfully discussed.

The colloquium also provoked discussions about politics, Thank you to all students from the three universities who
shifting lifestyles and self-identity. Students from the Uni- contribute to the production and publication of this news-
versity of Tokyo and Kyushu University gave presentations letter. While pandemic lingers, we may take the opportunity
on situations in Japan, such as how the pandemic reshapes to rethink, recover and rebuild beyond COVID-19.
music and baseball tournament industry, and how design
flaws of COCOA, a COVID-19 contact-tracing application By Savoki Zhang
developed by the Japanese government, triggered worries
over its effectiveness.