News

[2009.2.3]
Opening Ceremony for the Kumamoto University Organization for Globalization and Special Symposium

Kumamoto University hosted the opening ceremony for the Kumamoto University Organization for Globalization and Special Symposium on Tuesday, January 27th, 2009.

This organization was established on January 1st, 2009 to assist the University as a whole to work towards internationalization. It will achieve this aim by reorganizing the International Student Center. It will also lead in the promotion of the internationalization of Kumamoto University, which is a central part of the University’s primary goal of becoming a global academic hub (initiative university). The director of the organization is the president of Kumamoto University.

The ceremony was held at the 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall. Participants included Mr. Naoki Nagamiya, Director of the Office for International Planning, Higher Education Policy Planning Division, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Mr. Hiromasa Yasuda, Vice-Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Mr. Kiyoshi Nishijima, Vice-Mayor of Kumamoto City and other distinguished guests from universities and technical colleges in the prefecture.

Guests and university staff cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony with the local media and others looking on.

Following the congratulatory address of a guest, Mr. Nagamiya, Director of the Office for International Planning at MEXT, delivered a special lecture entitled “University Internationalization and the Plan for 300,000 People.”

Earlier in the day, the Center for Globalization, of the Organization for Globalization, hosted a symposium entitled “New Trends in Globalization of Universities and Proactive Engagement by Kumamoto University – Creating an Attractive Environment for International Students.”

In the symposium, Professor Masahiro Yokota, of the School of Global Japanese Studies, Meiji University, delivered a special lecture entitled “Challenge for Universities in an Era of 300,000-International-Students.” Professor Yoshimi Ogawa, of the International Student Center, Yokohama National University, delivered another special lecture entitled “The Importance of Japanese Language Education.” Following this lecture, former international students reported on their student experiences at Kumamoto University, and university lecturers and faculty members presented a panel discussion, “Creating an Attractive Environment for International Students.”

More than 200 people, including university staff members in Kyushu and representatives of international exchange organizations in Kumamoto Prefecture, attended the symposium and actively exchanged their views.