The 3rd International Conference on Archi-Cultural Interactions through the Silk Road, sponsored by iaSU (International Association of SILKROAD UNIVERSITIES) and Bahcesehir University (BAU), and co-sponsored by our university, was held at BAU on March 25-27, 2015. The iaSU, an international university union, promotes exchange between the universities of various regions along the "Silk Road." Our university and BAU, which are located at opposite ends of the Silk Road, organized the conference.

Keynote speaker Prof. Okazaki, Head of the Department of Architecture and Director of the Institute of Turkish Culture Studies at Mukogawa Women's University, and four teachers from the Department of Architecture were scheduled to travel to Turkey to participate in the conference. However, the current Middle East situation did not allow for travel to Turkey, so our university participated via a video conferencing system set up in Koshien Hall’s West Hall. With this system, not only Prof. Okazaki and the four teachers, but additional teachers from the department and staff of the Institute of Turkish Culture Studies were able to participate in the conference. Because the time difference between Japan and Turkey is seven hours, the conference started at midnight Japanese time.

The opening ceremony was held on 25th March. Prof. Murat Du¨ndar, Chair of the Steering Committee, Prof. Sema Soygenis, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at BAU, Prof. Shigeyuki Okazaki, Head of the Department of Architecture and Director of the Institute of Turkish Culture Studies of Mukogawa Women's University, Prof. Senay Yalcin, President of BAU, and Mr. Enver Yucel, Chair of the Board of Trustees of BAU, gave opening speeches. Prof. Suha Ozkan, founder and President of the World Architecture Community, presented a keynote speech entitled "A Stretch of Silk Road."

The general research presentations were delivered on 26th and 27th March. International researchers from Turkey, Japan, and all over the world gathered and presented their studies on architecture, urban design, landscape, and more for the countries of the Silk Road and active discussions commenced. The four members of our university also gave presentations. On the 27th, Prof Okazaki delivered a keynote speech entitled "Intercultural Coexistence," which was followed by the closing ceremony and a successful end to the conference.

The next Archi-Cultural Interactions through the Silk Road conference will be held in 2016 at our university.