University of Mbuji-Mayi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Rector Pays a Courtesy Visit to President Harada
On July 27, 2015, Professor Tumba Ghislain Disashi, M.D., Ph.D., and Rector of the University of Mbuji-Mayi (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa) paid a courtesy call to President Shinji Harada.
The University of Mbuji-Mayi is located in Mbuji-Mayi, the capital of East Kasai Province in the middle of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Half of its 1,800 students are medical students.
Rector Disashi studied at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Kumamoto University from 1992 to 1997, and obtained a doctoral degree. This visit was realized in accordance with Rector Disashi’s strong desire to deepen relations with his alma mater, as a first step to promote inter-university exchange activities focusing on student exchange with Japanese universities.
During the visit, President Harada and Rector Disashi exchanged opinions regarding future exchange programs for researchers and students, and agreed to develop exchange activities between the two universities.
Prior to the courtesy call, Rector Disashi visited Honjo Campus and met with Professor Yasuharu Nishimura, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences. They discussed student exchange programs in the life science field. Rector Disashi also visited facilities such as the Department of Medical Engineering Center of Kumamoto University Hospital, the Center for AIDS Research and the Institute of Pulsed Power Science.
Rector Disashi was surprised to see how much Kumamoto University had transformed since his last visit almost 20 years ago, and he expressed a strong interest in its attractive education and research environment. He said he hopes to build a good relationship with Kumamoto University in order to develop future high-level educators in Mbuji-Mayi.
Rector Disashi and President Harada
Rector Disashi and Professor Yasuharu Nishimura, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences
Kumamoto University group led by President Shinji Harada attends Kumamoto Day in Indonesia 2015 event and visits two Indonesian universities
A Kumamoto University group led by President Shinji Harada visited Indonesia from June 1 to 3 with about 70 other members of Kumamoto Prefecture’s business mission headed by Governor Ikuo Kabashima.
On June 1, the mission attended a Kumamoto Day in Indonesia 2015 event held in response to calls from the Kumamoto Indonesia Friendship Association and Ms. Yoko Suliawan, a resident of Indonesia from Kumamoto Prefecture. On that day and the next day, the mission held meetings with representatives from the academic, business and government sectors in Jakarta and Bali. These meetings were also attended by Dr. Titon Dutono, Chair of Kumamoto University’s Alumni Association in Indonesia as well as many other Indonesian and Japanese alumni living in the country. They shared memories of their campus days and expressed their hope for what Kumamoto University can do for Indonesian students wishing to study at the university in the future.
In addition to attending the events, on June 1 the group led by President Harada visited the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, the oldest national university in Indonesia. Founded in 1849, University of Indonesia has 13 faculties and has sent competent human resources into the worlds of politics and business. President Harada and Rector Muhammad Anis, University of Indonesia agreed to prepare for conclusion of an academic exchange agreement.
On June 3, the group visited Udayana University in Bali. With 13 faculties, the university accepts many students from around the world. The Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of Science and Technology of Kumamoto University has interacted closely with Udayana University. During this visit, both universities agreed to begin procedures to conclude an academic exchange agreement.
With Dr. Titon, Chair of Kumamoto University’s Alumni Association in Indonesia (fourth from right)
Rector Muhammad Anis, University of Indonesia (left) and President Harada
Visiting Udayana University
Acting dean and executive director of English Language Program of Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta (Canada) visits Kumamoto University
On June 16, 2015, Professor William Connor, acting dean, and Ms. Mimi Hui, executive director of the English Language Program of the Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, visited Kumamoto University and met with Professor Kazuki Takashima, Vice President for International Affairs, and Professor Shoshi Mizokami, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
Since the signing of an academic exchange agreement in 2001, we have deepened our relationship with the University of Alberta in various ways, such as inviting researchers and faculty members from and sending ours to the university, and sending our students to participate in the English and Cultural Seminar at the University of Alberta.
During this meeting, the two universities shared each other’s thoughts about ongoing and future exchange programs and agreed to further promote friendly relations.
On the same day, a presentation session was held to introduce the English and Cultural Seminar at the University of Alberta scheduled from August 6 to September 3, 2015. Many of the students who will participate in this seminar attended this session.
From left to right: Vice President Takashima; Prof. Connor, acting dean of the Faculty of Extension; and Ms. Hui, executive director of the English Language Program of the Faculty of Extension
From left to right: Prof. Connor; Ms. Hui; Prof. Mizokami, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; and Assoc. Prof. Mizumoto
Presentation session held to introduce the English and Cultural Seminar at the University of Alberta
His Excellency, the Hon. Godwin Nsude Agbo, Nigerian Ambassador to Japan pays a courtesy call on President Harada
On May 12, 2015, His Excellency, the Honorable Godwin Nsude Agbo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Japan, along with Minister Essesien Ntekim and two other Nigerian Embassy officials, visited Kumamoto University to pay a courtesy call on President Shinji Harada and Vice-President for International Affairs Kazuki Takashima.
Kumamoto University has established relationships with Nigeria in academic research and student exchange and currently hosts four exchange students and one visiting research fellow from the country. This visit provided an opportunity both for the Nigerian delegation to introduce us to the university education given in their country and for us to introduce them to Kumamoto University. Both parties exchanged views on further promotion of the partnership in the future, and agreed to continue developing collaborative relationships.
After that, His Excellency, Ambassador Agbo, Ministry Ntekim and other accompanying people visited the Kumamoto University Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School. It seemed that the history of Kumamoto University and its favorable environment for education and research greatly interested them.
Delegates from Kumamoto University Visited Three Universities in Montana
From February 9th to February 11th, 2015, Kumamoto University delegates from the International Affairs Division, led by Mr. Fukumura, went to the United States to visit three universities in Montana. The group visited Montana State University, Carroll College, and the University of Montana, which are partnered with either Kumamoto University or Kumamoto Prefecture, for the purpose of expanding both student exchange programs and overseas training programs for university officials. In the meeting with Teresa Branch, Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Montana, the group learned about topics such as the higher education system in American universities and current exchange activities in Montana with Japanese universities. The delegates from Kumamoto University introduced their school and spoke about topics such as the goals of the Top Global University Project. They received valuable suggestions from the consuls for promoting inter-university exchange with universities in Montana, and achieved substantial results. This visit will serve as a turning point to further advance both student and academic exchange between Kumamoto University and universities in Montana, as well as with other institutes of higher education in the United States.
Delegation from Kumamoto University Visits Japanese Consulate-General in Edinburgh
On January 13, 2015, a delegation from Kumamoto University led by Lecturer Mariko Masden of the Center for Globalization visited the Japanese Consulate-General in Edinburgh, located in Edinburgh City, Scotland in the UK, and paid a courtesy call on Consul General Hajime Kitaoka.
The delegation went to the UK to expand international exchange between universities in Scotland and Kumamoto University and develop student exchange programs and overseas training programs for university officials in Scotland. The delegation visited the University of Edinburgh, the University of Strathclyde, and the Japanese Consulate-General in Edinburgh.
In a meeting, Consul General Hajime Kitaoka and Vice-Consul Kengo Sawai explained the recent situation of higher education in Scotland and the activities of Japanese universities and Japanese-affiliated companies there.
Meanwhile, delegation members introduced about academic and student exchange between universities in the UK and Kumamoto University, and provided an outline of Kumamoto Prefecture. They received valuable suggestions from the consuls for promoting inter-university exchange with universities in the UK, and achieved substantial results.
This visit is expected to promote international student and academic exchange between Kumamoto University and higher education institutions in the UK including Scotland.
Kumamoto University Delegation Visits De La Salle University in the Philippines
On February 23, 2015, a delegation from Kumamoto University visited De La Salle University in the Philippines.
Founded in 1911 as a Catholic university, De La Salle University in Manila, Luzon Island, is one of the leading private universities in the country. There are roughly 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in its 8 colleges and schools. It provides education under the philosophy of peace and harmony based on Christianity. This internationally-minded university has many partner universities around the world, and actively promotes exchanges between researchers from various countries, not to mention exchanges between students. In the QS Top University Subject Rankings 2013, De La Salle University’s English language and literature education was acclaimed as being among the world’s top 100, which is the highest level of education standards in the country.
Kumamoto University’s Faculty of Engineering and the Graduate School of Science and Technology concluded a department-level exchange agreement with De La Salle’s College of Engineering in 2011. Since then, the two universities have deepened exchanges mainly in the area of engineering.
From Kumamoto University, Professor Tetsuya Kida and Assistant Professor Armando T. Quitain of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Engineering, and officials from International Affairs Division paid a courtesy call on Dr. Alvin Culaba, Executive Director for External Relations and Internationalization. After listening to an introduction of De La Salle University, the delegation members delivered a presentation including an overview, research achievements, international programs at Kumamoto University, and the activities of the ASEAN University Network through the Six Universities Network/International Education & Research System, Japan (SUN/SixERS). Following this, the delegation members exchanged views with Dr. Rosemary Seva, Dean of the College of Engineering, and other people in the college about the possibility of upgrading the relationship to a university-level exchange, and of introducing a credit transfer program to the area of applied chemistry and biochemistry. In 2016, it will be five years since the department-level exchange agreement was concluded, and the delegation members felt it was time to make deeper ties. The two universities agreed to continuously develop their successful relationship.
Following this opening, it is expected that student and academic exchanges will be further promoted between Kumamoto University and De La Salle University and other institutions of higher education in the Philippines as well.
