Visit from Robert Gordon University

On October 6, Head of Business Development at Robert Gordon University, Donella Beaton visited President TAKEDA Hiroshi to follow up on the Kobe City Government’s trip to Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. The meeting was also attended by Professor INOUE Noriyuki (Executive Vice President in Charge of International Exchange) and Professor ODA Keiji (Vice President in Charge of Research Promotion).

The meeting began with a welcoming address from President TAKEDA. This was followed by an introduction to Robert Gordon University from Ms Beaton, who singled out the university’s strength in marine engineering and business and its close links with industry - resulting in very high employability figures for graduates. The meeting then discussed the Nippon Foundation’s Summer Programme for marine energy, hosted by RGU, the style of education in Scottish universities and the initiatives undertaken by Kobe University’s Graduate School of Maritime Sciences.

After the discussion, a lunch meeting was held with Kobe University professors to introduce the University in more detail. The meeting was attended by Professor TOMIYAMA Akio (Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering), Professor NISHIO Shigeru (Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences), Professor ARAKAWA Masahiko (Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Science), Professor TATSUMI Yoshiyuki (Head of the Kobe Ocean-Bottom Exploration Center), and Professor FUJII Minoru (Graduate School of Engineering). They introduced Kobe University’s departments of Maritime Sciences, Engineering, and Science, and the Kobe Ocean-Bottom Exploration Center. This was followed by an introduction to Scotland’s Maritime Industry from Mr HORIUCHI Chotaro (Project Coordinator at Scottish Development International), an overview of Robert Gordon University from Ms Beaton, and a conversation about the potential for exchange between our universities, particularly as both serve ports of national importance.