Kobe University

Joint symposium commemorating the establishment of Kobe University Liaison office in Kraków

May 24, 2016

On May 17, 2016, Kobe University held a joint symposium commemorating the establishment of the Kobe University Liaison Office in Kraków under the theme of “New Research Perspectives from Japan and Poland”. Kobe University and Jagiellonian University co-organized this symposium to commemorate the establishment of Kobe University Liaison Office within the Jagiellonian University Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations. Over 50 participants including scholars and students from Jagiellonian University and researchers from Central and Eastern Europe participated in the symposium.

Professor YUI Kiyomitsu (Executive Assistant to the President and Executive Director at the Centre for EU Academic Collaboration) moderated the symposium. The opening remarks were given by Professor OGAWA Matsuto (Executive Vice President in Charge of Research and Industry-University Cooperation), Professor dr hab. Maria-Jolanta Flis (Vice-Rector for University Development), and Ms. TADA Sanae (Director of the Japan Foundation, Budapest) expressing their hopes to further enhance cooperation between the two universities and increase research collaboration between Japan and countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Symposium comprised three sessions:
Session I: Plant vs Animal
Session II: Comparative Studies of Civilisations, Japan, Europe and Asia
Session lll: EU – Japan Relations in Contemporary World

Researchers from Kobe University and Jagiellonian University delivered presentations on cutting-edge research outcomes and the results of collaborative research. Each presentation kept attendees focused on every word and was followed by active discussions.

In addition to the symposium, seven scholars from Kobe University also delivered lectures on “Global Issues in Current Japan” at the JU Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations. These lectures are part of a staff exchange program between the universities. Professor INOUE Noriyuki (Executive Vice-President in Charge of International Exchange), Professor YUI Kiyomitsu and Professor dr hab. Jerzy Pisuliński (Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration) discussed ways to further expand and strengthen this program.

Professor OGAWA also paid a courtesy visit to Professor dr hab. Stanisław Kistryn (Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds). They exchanged opinions on joint research, researcher exchanges, and business-academia cooperation. Before the meeting, Professor OGAWA visited the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS at Jagiellonian University to learn about their research achievements.

Kobe University will continue to use the Liaison Office in Kraków and the Brussels European Centre (established in 2010) to enhance its cooperation with education and research institutes in Central and Eastern Europe.

(International Affairs Planning Division)