Heidelberg University and Kyoto University have strengthened their academic and educational partnership by setting up overseas offices on each other's campuses. As part of this continuing cooperation, Kyoto University hosted the Santander Winter School 2015, organized by Heidelberg University, between 9 and 18 March 2015. The winter school, titled "What is Caesar's, What is God's? A Transcultural Perspective on the Legitimation of the Political and Religious Spheres", offered a variety of workshops and public lectures on the history of religion and politics.
On the first day, 15 lecturers and 20 doctoral students arrived at the Exhibition Hall of the Faculty of Letters on Yoshida Campus from a wide range of countries, including Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, and India. Assistant Professor Yutaka Tanigawa (Graduate School of Letters) gave a short speech to welcome the participants. Reflecting on his longstanding friendship with researchers at Heidelberg University, which made this event possible, he noted that "this winter school will be a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and to create new friendships for academic life in the future."
The doctoral students tirelessly engaged in discussions and presentations in the workshops held at the Exhibition Hall. At the KUINEP hall, two keynote lectures were given by prominent historians from the National University of Singapore and the University of Kiel. The participants also had an opportunity to join a guided tour in the city of Kyoto on Saturday 14 March. By visiting religious sites in the ancient capital, such as Kiyomizu-dera and Nishihongan-ji, they could get a glimpse into intersections of the religious and political spheres in the history of Japan
This winter school is part of the Santander International Summer Schools for Doctoral Students organized by Heidelberg University. Sponsored by Santander Universidades, the university organizes a series of short-term programs for doctoral students in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Graduate students at Kyoto University are encouraged to participate in future Summer Schools and gain international experience if interested in pursuing this opportunity.
Welcome speech by Prof Tanigawa, Graduate School of Letters
Keynote lecture by Prof Hartmut Lehmann, University of Kiel
Workshop at Exhibition Hall
Winter School participants
Related link
Santander International Summer School
http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/research/international/santander_summer_schools/
