Kyoto University President Juichi Yamagiwa attended the 4th Joint School Symposium for the Asia Youth Center Project held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) on 24 October 2014.
The Asian Youth Center Project aims to build dormitories across East Asian countries, in order to enable students from various countries to live side by side. The project was the brainchild of Mr Ronald K Y Chao, a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and vice chairman of Novel Enterprise Limited, who has established and funded the project. His idea is that the emergence of global leaders from Asia can be encouraged through greater interaction and development of mutual understanding among Asian students. The Symposium has been held annually to provide an opportunity for officials from the Universities participating in the Asia Youth Center Project and/or the Asian Future Leader Scholarship Program (AFLSP), which was also established by Mr Chao, to gather and share information on how these projects are implemented at their universities. Kyoto University began participating in the AFLSP and awarding scholarships to international students at graduate level in October 2014.
At the symposium, President Yamagiwa gave a presentation on the university’s commitment to the international mobility of students. He also expressed his gratitude to the AFLSP for bringing a greater number of international students studying at graduate level to Kyoto University and promoting globalization in education. Following the presentations, President Yamagiwa held meetings with representatives from SJTU, including Mr Jiang Sixian, Chairperson of the University Council, and President Zhang Jie. Kyoto University and SJTU concluded an academic cooperation and exchange agreement as well as a student exchange agreement, and have reinforced their partnership through various other exchanges. Throughout the meetings, the delegates amiably exchanged their views on the significance of promoting exchange based on the relationship the two universities have built so far.
The AFLSP is expected to promote mutual understanding and exchange between Japanese students and international students from across the globe studying at Kyoto University and to result in the further strengthening of friendships and development in Asia and beyond.
President Yamagiwa delivering a speech at SJTU
President Junichi Yamagiwa (third from left), Mr Jiang Sixian (fourth from left), and President Zhang Jie (fifth from left)
