Japan (Osaka University) The University of Groningen Visits Osaka University to Sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement

A delegation of 7 members from the University of Groningen (UG) including President Jouke de Vries visited Osaka University (OU) from 7 to 8 November 2022 to commemorate 20 years of our inter-university academic exchange agreement. During their visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed for a strategic partnership and several events were held.

The signing ceremony on 8 November was attended by OU representatives including Dr. Shojiro NISHIO (President), Professor Genta KAWAHARA (Executive Vice President for Global Engagement), Professor Mayumi ISHIKAWA (Senior Advisor to the President/Professor, Center for Global Initiatives), Professor Nobuo AKAI (Dean, Osaka School of International Public Policy), Professor Tohru SEKINO (Director, SANKEN), Professor Takuo DOME (Director, Social Solution Initiative), and Professor Shoya UNODA (Graduate School of Humanities).

During the discussion after the ceremony, members from both universities exchanged ideas on the possibilities of future collaborations in education and research as well as strengthening cooperation toward the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Afterward, the “20th Anniversary of Agreement between University of Groningen and Osaka University Special Lecture” was held, in which President de Vries gave a keynote speech.

On 7 November, a symposium commemorating the 20th anniversary of the relations between the universities, “Meta-Science—Towards a Science of Meaning and Complex Solutions,” was held in a hybrid format. Researchers from both universities presented topics and had lively discussions on finding solutions to global issues and contributing to future society. In addition to these events, the delegation visited the Minoh Campus and SANKEN.

UG and OU plan to build on existing collaborations by increasing student and researcher exchange, as well as interdisciplinary research opportunities.