[2008.11.25]
The 6th Kumamoto University Forum Held in Surabaya, Indonesia
Kumamoto University held its 6th Kumamoto University Forum on November 5th and 6th in Surabaya, the second largest city in the Republic of Indonesia. This forum has been held every year since 2003 to introduce the education and research activities of Kumamoto University at home and abroad, and to promote exchange. This is the third forum to be held abroad, and follows forums in Shanghai, China (2005) and Daejeon, Korea (2006). [Co-hosted by the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)]
Since 2006, Kumamoto University has strengthened exchanges with the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember in regards to undertaking JICA’s “Project for Research and Education Development in Information and Communication Technology in ITS (PREDICT-ITS).” This year is also the 50th anniversary of friendship between Japan and Indonesia, and so Indonesia was selected to host the forum.
On the first day of the forum, lectures and research presentations were delivered in the auditorium at the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember. The effects on education achieved through information and communication technologies were reported, and JICA project activities were introduced. About 40 students from Kumamoto University and the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember gave Oral and Poster Presentations in the afternoon.
On the second day of the forum, the site was moved to a hotel in Surabaya City, and congratulatory addresses were delivered by Mr. Yasuji Odoko, the Consul General of Japan in Surabaya, and Dr. Muhammad Nuh, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology for the Republic of Indonesia (former President of the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember). Then, a lecture entitled “A Plan for 300,000 Exchange Students” was delivered by Mr. Ryuichiro Shima, an advisor to the Indonesian National Ministry of Education. An introduction to JICA activities in Indonesia and a lecture on the globalization activities conducted between Indonesian universities and Kumamoto University were among the presentations that followed.
A signing ceremony for the academic exchange agreement was also held. Presidents and vice-presidents of five universities participating in JICA projects in the eastern part of Indonesia (The Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember, Cenderawasih University, Mataram University, University of Nusa Cendana and University of Sam Ratulangi) and Kumamoto University signed the agreement in a convivial atmosphere and agreed to cooperate to promote mutual development.
About 100 posters were displayed at the site to introduce the research, faculties and departments of Kumamoto University and the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember, and to show the activities of Japanese companies in Kumamoto and Surabaya. In addition, a booth set up to introduce studies at Kumamoto University was visited by over 100 students.
This forum attracted about 500 people, far more than originally expected, over two days. Some Indonesians who used to study at Kumamoto University traveled long distances to attend.
This forum allowed us to strengthen exchanges between teachers, students and staff members from each university in Indonesia, including the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember. In this way, the forum provides meaningful progress toward the development of deeper future relationships between our two countries.
“The 6th Kumamoto University Forum” Web Site
