AY2023

From February 26 ~ March 7, 2024, the Osaka University ASEAN Campus SDGs Field Study - Bamboo: Yunnan and Vietnam (OUICP-S) was held in Yunnan, China and Vietnam. Participants in this program went on field trips to learn about environmental issues of the Red River that flows from China’s Yunnan Province through Vietnam and into the Pacific Ocean and gain knowledge on how ethnic minorities and Vietnamese living in the region sustainably utilize nature via a methodology that uses local knowledge of indigenous people for local communities. Participants also took courses at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, a collaborating institution in Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus Project, to learn about the Red River Delta and energy as well as plastic waste in Vietnam.

From March 10 ~ March 21, 2024, OUICP-S SDGs Field Study – Bamboo: The Philippines was held. Based in the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Asia Center and the University of the Philippines Los Baños, participants studied the characteristics of Southeast Asia and the Philippines in terms of agriculture, food, healthcare, culture, religion, and the environment through lectures by experts, field trips, and excursions in the Philippines. On the final day of the program, participants made a presentation in English on challenges faced by the Philippines in achieving SDGs and discussed with faculty and students from the Philippines.

On March 28, 2024, students from Brunei and Indonesia taking a class of the Practical Study Abroad (PSA) in the OUICP Halal Science, Technology and Innovation Course completed with the course at OU and made the final presentations for their research. The Osaka University International Certificate Program (OUICP) is an interactive, hybrid educational program consisting of both online and study abroad courses that makes effective use of Osaka University (OU) ASEAN Campuses. OUICP (Inbound) invites students from OU ASEAN Campuses for a short-term study abroad experience at Osaka University.

From February 26 ~ March 8, 2024, the Career Advancement Program in Brunei was held in Brunei. The entirety of the program held in Brunei was coordinated by Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), a member university of Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus Project. Participants learned about culture, food, and changes in forestry and agriculture in Brunei, as well as field studies and laboratory studies at field stations and joint laboratories newly established between Osaka University and UBD. During the English Presentation Session, participants and faculty members had lively discussions.

Specially Appointed Professor HASAN Quamrul (Center for Global Initiatives) visited Brunei to conduct lectures on Halal Science in OUICP for 3 days on December 18, 20, and 21, 2023. Six students from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali and Universiti Teknologi Brunei attended the class in-person, while 6 students from Universiti Sains Malaysia and Bandung Institute of Technology participated online. In the first in-person classes held at the Brunei Office, students got involved in active discussions.

On December 19, 2023, in cooperation with Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (Malay: Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA)), one of Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus Partners, Osaka University held the Virtual International Symposium of Osaka University ASEAN Campus SDGs Co-creation Forum-Halal Innovation. From OU, Professor ARAI Masayoshi (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) and Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori and Specially Appointed Professor HASAN Quamrul (Center for Global Initiatives) participated in the symposium held at the UNISSA. Including online attendees from Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, a total of participants reached 72.

On December 13, 2023, OUICP 2022 Graduation Ceremony and OUICP 2023 Entrance Ceremony for Universiti Sains Malaysia students were held at the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Malaysia Office, with a virtual attendance of Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne and faculty members in the program.

On Tuesday, December 7, 2023, Specially Appointed Associate Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) visited Bandung Institute of Technology, where he introduced the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Project to Vice Dean of the School of Life Sciences and Technology and International Relations Office Staff. Dr. Angkawidjaja also toured the joint office, seminar rooms, and laboratories at the School of Life Sciences and Technology.

On December 5, 2023, a group led by Specially Appointed Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) made a courtesy call on Dr. Mohamed Saleem Haja Nazmudeen, Deputy Dean of UTB School of Business at Brunei Institute of Technology to discuss education and research exchange in the future.

On December 5, 2023, a group led by Specially Appointed Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) made a courtesy call on Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zaina, President of Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University to discuss education and research exchange in the future.

On December 4, 2023, a group led by Specially Appointed Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) made a courtesy call on Dr. Joyce Teo Siew Yean, Office of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Global Affairs), Dr. Abby Tan Chee Hong, and Assistant Vice Chancellor (Research) to discuss education and research exchange in the future.

On December 4, 2023, a group led by Specially Appointed Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) visited the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Brunei Office to set up equipment for hybrid events. They also discussed office activities in the future with Collaborative Professor Hajah Normah Suria Hayati and Mr. Abdul Muiz Bin Haji.

From Monday, December 4 ~ Saturday, December 9, 2023, Prof. Tran Dai Lam (Director), Dr. Pham Gia Vu (Head of Paint Laboratory), and Dr. Trinh Van Thanh (Researcher) of the Institute of Tropical Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology visited Osaka University. Professor UYAMA Hiroshi (Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering) and Professor TANAKA Hidekazu (SANKEN) delivered lectures for enhancing future collaborative research projects. Later, Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori (Center for Global Initiatives) joined the group for a tour of the Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy.

Starting from December 1 to December 3, 2023, a group led by Specially Appointed Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) visited the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Malaysia Office at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to set up equipment for hybrid events. They also discussed education and research exchange with Professor Zainovia Binti LOCKMAN, a contact person at the university.

On November 22, 2023, a group led by Ridwan Sutriadi (Director of Non-Regular Education, Institut Teknologi Bandung) visited OU to discuss research and student exchange with FUJITA Kiyoshi (Regional Director, ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives) and Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives).

On November 9, 2023, Osaka University held the OUICP and OUICP-S 2022 Graduation Ceremony and 2023 Entrance Ceremony together with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA), and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). From Brunei, Dr. Haji Azman (Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), vice presidents from the universities, and from OU, Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne and faculty members in the program attended the ceremony, coming to a total of 72 individuals. The 19 graduates from this year’s program gathered at the Brunei Office of Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus to participate the graduation ceremony. Moving forward, the university will further promote student exchange through this program.

On October 18~20, 2023, six faculty members from Osaka University OU, including Professor MORIKAWA Yoshitada of the Graduate School of Engineering participated in the 12th-Asian Computational Materials Design Workshop and Special Lecture Seminar on Raman Microscopy held at De La Salle University. Presentations of the latest research results from faculty members and students from both universities. Lectures on basic principles of research methods for computational materials design attracted some 70 participants, while tutorials using calculators attracted some 30 individuals.

On October 6, 2023, Bandung Institute of Technology Rector Reini Wirahadikusumah and her entourage made a courtesy call to Osaka University Executive Vice President TANAKA Manabu and Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne. Also present from Osaka University were Professor FUKUSAKI Eiichiro and Professor MORIKAWA Yoshitada (Graduate School of Engineering), Director FUJIYAMA Kazuhito and Professor HONDA Kohsuke (International Center for Biotechnology), Director FUJITA Kiyoshi (ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives) and Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori (Center for Global Initiatives). They discussed the possibilities of further student exchange between OU and Bandung Institute of Technology, one of Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus Partners, based on their collaborative efforts.

On October 5, 2023, Universiti Brunei Darussalam Chancellor Hazri bin Haji Kifle and Vice Chancellor Abby Tan Chee Hong from Universiti Brunei DarussalamUBD, one of Osaka University’s ASEAN Campus Partners, made a courtesy call to Osaka University President NISHIO Shojiro. Also present from Osaka University were Executive Vice President TANAKA Manabu, Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne, Director FUJITA Kiyoshi (ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives) and Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori (Center for Global Initiatives). After an introduction to both universities, attendees discussed previous collaborative efforts between OU and UBD, as well as the possibilities of further student exchange. Before the courtesy call, the group from UBD visited the Center for Japanese Language and Culture, the Division of Health Sciences of the Graduate School of Medicine, and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

On October 3, 2023, from Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham, Minister of Health, Mr. Haji Shahbudin Haji Musa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam in Japan, as well as other 6 officials made a courtesy call to Osaka University President NISHIO Shojiro. Also present from Osaka University were Executive Vice President TANAKA Manabu, Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne, Dean KUMANOGOH Atsushi (Graduate School of Medicine), Director FUJITA Kiyoshi (ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives), Professor SUMIMURA Yoshinori, and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Clement ANGKAWIDJAJA (Center for Global Initiatives) also attended to discussed the possibilities of further collaboration between the two nations. After the courtesy call, the group toured the Graduate School of Medicine and Osaka University Hospital and discussed with staff members of the facilities.

Staring from September 25 to October 6, 2023, as part of international joint research with University of Science Malaysia, a training program on electron microscope at an advanced level was carried out for two technical staff members from the university at the R3 Institute for Newly-Emerging Science Design (INSD) at OU. The two members, who received training under the direction of Vice Director TAKEDA Seiji, Specially Appointed Professor ITO Tadashi, and Associate Professor NAKAJIMA Yoshitaka from INSD, said that they would like to use what they learned about devices and analysis methods for their work and student advising.

Starting from September 21 to September 23, 2023, Professor MORIKAWA Yoshitada and others from the Graduate School of Engineering participated in the ASIAN Computational Materials Design Workshop (ACMD-WS) held at Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). This workshop was held to help students to acquire the basic ability to respond to new paradigms in materials science by learning the latest computation methods and experience materials design while looking at the possibilities of computation materials design. In this workshop focusing on designing materials using actual calculations, 52 participants designed materials using a computational server installed at the Osaka University ASEAN Campus in Indonesia.

From September 17 to September 28, 2023, the 2023 Career Advancement Program in Brunei was held at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). From OU, nine students accompanied by Professor ARAI Masayoshi of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences participated in the program. This program aims to help students to improve their English language proficiency, especially their presentation skills, and to find challenges of implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and acquire experience and knowledge to become active on the international stage in the future. The participating students also took lessons on biodiversity at the Tropical Biodiversity Center and performed field studies at a nearby mangrove forest and practical training at laboratories in the center.

On August 18, 2023, Osaka University’s office opened in Mahidol University’s Office of the President building to further promote the partnership between the two universities.

On August 2, 2023, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Ir Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed and four delegates from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) mad a courtesy call to President Nishio at OU. They discussed with OU faculty members: Executive Vice President TANAKA Manabu, Executive Vice President YAMAMOTO Beverley Anne, Professor UYAMA Hiroshi (Graduate School of Engineering), Director FUJITA Kiyoshi (ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives), and faculty members from the Center for Global Initiatives about the double degree program (DDP), which is now its 2nd year, and the Osaka University International Certificate Program (OUICP). After the courtesy call, the group visited the Division of Health Sciences at the Graduate School of Medicine and the R3 Institute for Newly-Emerging Science Design.

On May 22, 2023, Osaka University’s R3 Institute for Newly-Emerging Science Design held a joint workshop with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) at its Institute of Materials Science (IMS). 13 individuals from each university talked about advances in materials physics and chemistry at this 6th workshop, and Specially Appointed Professor ITOH Tadashi (Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Engineering Science) received the medal of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.