May 17, 2016

On May 6, the Japan-China University Fair and Forum, a collaboration between the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), was held at the Academic Hall of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In attendance from Kobe University were Professor OGATA Yasushi (Director of the Centre for Asian Academic Collaboration) and Professor ODAKA Hiroyuki (Deputy Director of the Center for Collaborative Research and Technology Development).

The Forum brought together Presidents and Provosts of twelve top-class universities in Japan and China. Presentations and discussions were held under the theme of “Aim for World Top University - Promoting Higher Education and Research Development”

After the opening ceremony, Dr. NOYORI Ryoji, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Director-General of CRDS at JST, gave a commemorative speech. He introduced his Nobel Prize-winning research achievement on right-handed and left-handed structures in organic chemistry. In addition, he emphasized that scientific and technological cooperation between Japan and China should be focused on as a means to solve global problems including environmental and energy issues. President of the University of Science and Technology of China Professor WAN Li-jun and President of Tohoku University Professor SATOMI Susumu delivered keynote speeches. Mr. OKIMURA Kazuki (Counselor to President at JST) and Dr. ZHANG Ning (deputy secretary-general of the China Scholarship Council) respectively introduced the Sakura Science Plan and a Chinese government-sponsored student exchange system.

During the panel discussion on the themes “The Role of Universities: Balancing Education and Research” and “Criteria of World Top Universities and Fostering Global Human Resources” the Presidents and Provosts discussed current challenges, reporting on their specific strategies and tactics and answering questions from the audience. Kobe University also participated in the discussion, supporting further exchange with Chinese universities and the promotion of industry-academia partnerships.

The Forum ended with closing remarks provided by Professor WU Yue-Liang, Vice President of UCAS, and Mr. ANDO Yoshiaki, Executive Director of JST.

(International Affairs Planning Division)