Kobe University

Visit from the EU Delegation to Japan

November 16, 2020

On November 11, Mr. Haitze Siemers (Minister, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan) visited Kobe University and met with Professor YOSHII Masahiko (Executive Vice President in Charge of Human Resources, International Exchange and Evaluation). Their meeting was also attended by Professor MASUMOTO Hiroko (Vice President in Charge of International Collaboration and International Education), Professor YOSHIDA Ken-ichi (Executive Director of the Center for EU Academic Collaboration / Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation), Professor SAKAI Kazunari (Executive Director of the Kobe University Brussels European Centre / Graduate School of Intercultural Studies), Associate Professor KARASHIMA Masato (Graduate School of Intercultural Studies) and Ms. ANNO Eri (URA, Institute of Promoting Academic Research Programs). This occasion came about because Minister Siemers was visiting a high school in Hyogo Prefecture as part of the “EU comes to your school” project, in which diplomats from the EU Delegation and member states travel to high schools throughout Japan to give presentations. He visited Kobe University in order to have a discussion with a university level educational institution as well.

Executive Vice President Yoshii began the meeting with an explanation of Kobe University’s activities in Europe and in relation to the EU. This included aspects of Kobe University’s history, the establishment of overseas offices in Europe and their respective activities, academic cooperation agreements with European institutions, and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, which is an EU-focused educational and research center.

Minister Siemers expressed his views on the great importance of furthering scientific and technological progress in order to build a better society for future generations and exchanged opinions on how Kobe University can increase its active participation in the European research funding scheme Horizon Europe. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including Kobe University’s EU-related education, the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and SDGs.

Kobe University will continue to strengthen its connections with the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, as well as leveraging the Kobe University Brussels European Centre as a base for expanding the University’s international exchange activities in Europe.

(International Affairs Planning Division)