November 20, 2015

On October 22, Kobe University, with the cooperation of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, established a liaison office within its Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations. It is the fourth international base for Kobe University, following the Kobe University China Office established in Beijing, China, in 2008; the Kobe University Brussels European Centre (KUBEC) established in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010; and the Kobe University Hanoi Liaison Base, Vietnam, in April 2015.

President TAKEDA Hiroshi, Professor INOUE Noriyuki, Executive Vice President in Charge of International Exchange, and Professor OGAWA Matsuto, Executive Vice President in Charge of Research and Industry-University Cooperation conducted the signboard unveiling ceremony for the Kobe University Liaison Office in Kraków. At the ceremony, President TAKEDA extended his gratitude to the Jagiellonian University for their cooperation in opening the office, and expressed his hopes that the office will be dedicated to offering research and study exchange opportunities to universities in Central and Eastern Europe and disseminating information about Kobe University. Following this, Professor Marta Kudelska from the Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilizations at the Jagiellonian University voiced her expectations for further international exchange activities with Kobe University.

The delegation headed by President Takeda visited the Rector’s Office of the Jagiellonian University and met with Professor Doctor Habilitatus Andrzej Mania, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs, and Professor Doctor Habilitatus Stanisław Kistryn, Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds. During the meeting, Vice-Rector Kistryn referred to the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS built at the Jagiellonian University, which is one of the foremost synchrotron radiation facilities in Europe. President Takeda introduced Kobe City’s competitive strength as an international research city and its close relationship with Kobe University. Further educational cooperation and research collaboration opportunities between the two universities were discussed.

The Jagiellonian University concluded the Academic Cooperation Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding for Student Exchange with Kobe University in 2013. It is also a member of the EU-Japan Advanced Multidisciplinary Master Studies project (EU-JAMM) consortium, a network that offers double degree master programmes and student and faculty mobility among selected partner universities in the EU and Japan, supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the European Commission. The Jagiellonian University is one of Kobe University’s active exchange partner universities in Europe.

Kobe University will use the Polish Liaison Office and Brussels European Centre to enhance its collaboration with educational and research institutes in Central and Eastern Europe.

Click below to read the Jagiellonian University report on the liaison base establishment:

Jagiellonian University strengthens ties with Kobe University

(International Affairs Planning Division)