2018

23rd Visit-Japan Program for Chinese Students "Visit Japanese Enterprises and Feel Japan”

On Wednesday, November 28, 2018, the 23rd Visit-Japan Program for Chinese Students "Visit Japanese Enterprises and Feel Japan” welcomed a student group from China (leader: Guan Yong, Secretary General, China-Japan Friendship Association) to the Suita campus and held an exchange session for the Chinese students and Osaka University students.

This program was held by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China with the aim of deepening mutual understanding and fostering friendly relations between Japan and China through exchange and visits to Japanese companies by Chinese university students, a young generation tasked with shaping the future. This visit marked the 4th time this project has come to OU.

The group first visited the Immunology Frontier Research Center, where they were greeted by ARIKAWA Tomoko (Director, Center for International Education and Exchange) and watched a video introducing the university. After that, an introduction to the Center was given by Specially Appointed Associate Professor SAKANOUE Jun and an academic lecture was given by Dr. OHKURA Naganari entitled “Discovery of regulatory T cell and its role in immunity.”

Later, the group toured state-of-the-art facilities, including MRI experimental facilities, the RIMD (Research Institute for Microbial Diseases) History Museum, and the Experimental Immunology Laboratory, with the faculty at the Center answering passionate questions from the students.

Following this, the venue moved to the Convention Center, where OU students and Chinese students actively discussed the differences in student life and job hunting in Japan and China in group work led by Director KOMIZO Yuichi of the East Asian Center for Academic Initiatives.

Finally, commemorative gifts were exchanged between Director Komizo and Secretary General Guan Yong at a social gathering held at Cafeteria “Takumi,” at which Japanese and Chinese students deepened friendships and promoted positive relations between the two countries.

At the Integrated Life Science Building, Immunology Frontier Research Center

Spokesman Lu Kang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (People's Republic of China) visits Osaka University

On Wednesday, December 19, officials from People's Republic of China, including Spokesman Lu Kang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consul General Li Tianran of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka, visited Osaka University Hall on the Toyonaka Campus.

This visit was part of the Social Event for Japanese and Chinese Students in the Kansai Region in which Japanese students from Osaka University and other universities in the Kansai region exchange opinions with Chinese students.

These Japanese students participated in the 1000-Person Exchange Program between Chinese and Japanese Students, which started in Beijing in 2017 to celebrate the history of Japan-China Friendship.

Some 100 individuals, including KAWAHARA Genta, Executive Vice President of Osaka University, students, faculty, and staff from OU and other related organizations, were in attendance.

The social gathering started with the screening of a video taken during the students’ visit to China, which was followed by greetings from Consul General Li, Executive Vice President Kawahara, and Spokesman Lu.

In the opinion exchange session, students asked about the role students should play for promoting friendly relations between Japan and China and differences and similiarities between the two countries. Consul General Li answered such candid questions from the students warmly and frankly while occasionally mixing in a bit of humor, which provided for a warm atmosphere at the venue.

The social gathering was concluded with a vocal performance by representatives from Japanese students and a commemorative photograph. Even after the social gathering, Japanese and Chinese students enjoyed friendly conversation while eating a boxed meal for dinner at the site, providing a glimpse of the bright future of these two countries.

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A scene from the opinion exchange session with students

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Group photo

Osaka University receives "China-Japan Friendship Exchange Contribution Award"

On Tuesday, December 18, 2018, Osaka University received the "China-Japan Friendship Exchange Contribution Award" from Consul General Li Tianran of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka.

During this 40th year of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China, many exchange projects have been carried out, such as the Japan-China Thousand Student Exchange Meet. This is the second time Osaka University has received this award after receiving it in January 2018 as well. The university's dedication to the promotion and development of amicable exchange between Japan and China over the years was highly praised.

Upon receiving the award as representative of the university, SUMIYOSHI Kenji (Director of the Department of International Affairs, Osaka University) gave a message of thanks to the Education Office in the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Osaka for their support in recruiting and accepting Chinese students, which make up over 1,000 of the 2,500 international students at OU.

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Director Sumiyoshi (right) receives the award from Consul Wu Jinsong of the  Chinese Consulate General in Osaka

Student group from Tsinghua University (China) visits OU

On Thursday, August 23, 2018, as part of summer study abroad activity in the Cyrus Tang Foundation’s Student Leadership Development Program, 10 graduate students from Tsinghua University (China) visited Osaka University. Professor HASHIDZUME Akihito of the Graduate School of Science and Professor FUJITA Kiyoshi of the Graduate School of Engineering gave an introduction to the research activity and educational programs at their graduate schools, while Specially Appointed Associate Professor NAKAMURA Ryosuke of the Office for Industry-University Co-Creation introduced “Entrepreneurship Education.”

Following this, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor LI Ming of the Center for Global Initiatives gave a general explanation of the university with a video aimed at international students, while also introducing the application support system for Chinese students who intend to study at OU called “龍門窓口 (Dragon Gate)”. Students intently jotted down memos throughout, showing their strong interest in studying at OU. Typhoon #20 was nearing Japan during the visit, which shortened their time at OU and unfortunately prevented any student-to-student exchange during their stay, but we hope that this visit will serve as the impetus for even more exchange between OU and Tsinghua University in the future.

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Three universities from Brunei Darussalam visit OU; signing ceremony for inter-university agreement with University of Technology Brunei held

On Monday, August 6 and Tuesday, August 7, 2018, three universities from Brunei Darussalam, University of Technology Brunei, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, visited Osaka University, and a signing ceremony for an inter-university agreement with University of Technology Brunei was held along with the 2nd Joint Symposium.

The three universities that visited Osaka University on this occasion are all universities with which OU aims to strengthen collaboration under the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Concept. In February 2018, OU established the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Brunei Office, which has performed various exchange activities, such as holding the 1st Joint Symposium.

Osaka University has signed inter-university agreements with Universiti Brunei Darussalam in June 2017, with Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University in October 2017, and with University of Technology Brunei during this visit.

Eight individuals from Osaka University were in attendance at the signing ceremony including President NISHIO Shojiro, Executive Vice President KAWAHARA Genta, Director of the Center for Global Initiatives HIRATA Kazumasa, and 11 were in attendance from Brunei Darussalam including Vice-Chancellor Hajah Zohrah of University of Technology Brunei, Dean Lim Lee Hoon of the School of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Associate Professor Nurdeng Deuraseh of Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University. The signing ceremony was pleasant from start to finish, reaffirming the importance of cooperation between the two universities.

In addition, on Tuesday, August 7, a Joint Symposium was held, with research presentations by researchers on 3 topics and a discussion on the future of education and research cooperation on the ASEAN Campus.

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President Nishio and Vice-Chancellor Hajah Zohrah

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A scene from the discussion

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Group photo

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A scene from the Joint Symposium

Study Tour from Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands)

On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Osaka University welcomed an overseas study tour group from Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands). This study tour was made up of 2 faculty members, 10 undergraduate students, and 17 graduate students for a total of 29 members. Students took the initiative in planning and managing the tour under the auspices of the universities and companies.

The group was in Japan for a 2-week stay, with visits to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo. At Osaka University, the group visited the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), and the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences (FBS).

At RIMD, the students were introduced to the Institute by Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Saya NAKAGOMI of the Planning and Promotion Section. Afterwards, the party split into 3 groups and visited The RIMD History Museum, Takakura Laboratory, and IFReC.

Following their time at RIMD, the group moved to FBS, where they were greeted by Professor Tamotsu YOSHIMORI (Dean, FBS), and received an introduction to FBS by Specially Appointed Lecturer Noriko OKAMOTO. Later, a poster session was held over lunch, with Japanese and Dutch researchers and students interacting and exchanging opinions in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish. The poster session was conducted on the initiative of students and young researchers who had good talk about their university life and their research, leading to many of them exchanging information over SNS, making for a very meaningful gathering.

After the poster session, the party broke into small groups for laboratory visits (Prof. Shigeru KONDO/Prof. Tamotsu YOSHIMORI/Prof. Tatsuo FUKAGAWA/Prof. Yasushi HIRAOKA), at which the students and researchers listened intensely to explanations and demonstrations from researchers at the laboratories. The party actively participated and asked a number of questions, which even left an impression on the staff at the Graduate School.

This visit aims not only to deepen exchange between the two schools, but also to increase opportunities for OU students and researchers to experience international exchange and expand their points of view through interaction with researchers from other cultures. Not only professors, but also young researchers and students filled pivotal roles in the experiment demonstrations and presentations in each laboratory, which provided a great opportunity for developing young researchers.

Osaka University receives "China-Japan Friendship Exchange Contribution Award"

On Sunday, January 14, 2018, Osaka University received the "China-Japan Friendship Exchange Contribution Award" from Consul General Li Tianran of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka. The award was given to Osaka University for its efforts to promote friendly relationship with China over the years.

On this award, Department of International Affairs Director SUMIYOSHI Kenji expressed his appreciation to professors at departments, who have taught some 900 Chinese students, as well as the Education Office of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka for their constant support. He also expressed his hope that Osaka University would push forward its globalization.

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Director Sumiyoshi receives the award from the Consul Sheng of the Education Office of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka

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