The Kyoto University European Center, Heidelberg Office was opened on Heidelberg University's historic Old Campus. The primary functions of the office are to support the university's research and education activities in Europe, promote the internationalization of faculty and students, and enhance the university's international public relations, industry-government-academia collaboration, and international networks. The office will also serve as a contact point for the Japanese members of the German-Japanese HeKKSaGOn University Consortium (see below for details). The office was planned and established based on Kyoto University's international strategy, "The 2x by 2020 Initiative," which was formulated in June 2013.
A ceremony was held to celebrate the opening of the new office, inviting over thirty guests from within and outside of the university, including delegates from the Japanese and German governments, HeKKSaGOn university members, and delegates from German companies and other relevant organizations. The opening speech was delivered by Dr. Michiaki Mishima, executive vice-president for international affairs and hospital administration, which was followed by speeches by distinguished guests Ms. Kumiko Bando, deputy minister of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and by Prof. Dr. Dieter W. Heermann, vice rector for international relations of Heidelberg University.
After the speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the office was held in front of the main entrance of Heidelberg University's Bel Etage building, where the office is located (see below for details of the participants). Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the delegates were given a tour of the Heidelberg Office and Heidelberg University's historic "Student Prison" (Studentenkarzer), a popular tourist attraction in Heidelberg city. The proceedings were then concluded with a celebratory reception, featuring a speech and toast by Prof. Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Kyoto University's executive vice-president for research. The reception provided the participants with an opportunity to relax and speak with each other in a friendly atmosphere, and facilitated the development of networks for the promotion of Japanese-German relations.
*The HeKKSaGOn University Consortium
HeKKSaGOn is a university consortium comprising six leading universities from Japan and Germany: Heidelberg University, Kyoto University, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, Göttingen University, and Osaka University. The consortium was established in 2010 with the aim of enhancing relationships between Japanese and German universities, including researcher and student exchange, research collaboration, and summer school programs.
 The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (L to R) Prof. Toshiya Ueki, executive vice-president, Tohoku University, Prof. Yoshikawa, executive vice-president for research, Dr. Mishima, executive vice-president for international affairs and hospital administration, Prof. Dr. Heermann, vice rector for international relations, Ms. Bando, deputy minister, Prof. Yasuyuki Okamura, trustee and vice-president of Osaka University |  Executive Vice-President Mishima delivers his opening speech |
