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Conference Title: Ethiopia JICA Chair Invitation Program to Japan
Date: Sunday, February 4 – Saturday, February 10, 2024
Organized by JICA
Location: Tokyo, Kyoto
Main Participants
Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology
President Dereje Engida
Addis Ababa University
Worash Getaneh Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer
Matiwos Ensermu, Director and Vice President, Office of the President
Zerihun Getaneh Secretary General of the Board of Directors
Zerihun Berhane Director, Center for African and Asian Studies
Bahardar University
Enyew Adgo Vice President for Research and Community Services
Background and Objectives
Since FY2021, JICA has been supporting lectures at Addis Ababa University as part of the Japanese Studies Chair Establishment Support Program (JICA Chair), with the aim of sharing Japan’s development experience, etc. JICA intends to further support the development of Ethiopia, where the AU headquarters is located, with a view to fostering young future leaders. JICA intends to further support the development of the University by holding JICA Chairs and other programs in Ethiopia, where the AU headquarters is located, and which became a member of the G20 last year and is becoming increasingly important in the international community, in order to foster young leaders for the future. However, even at Ethiopia’s top-ranked university, the number of researchers specializing in Asian-Japanese Studies is limited.
Furthermore, JICA has been cooperating with Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology and Bahardar University in cooperation with Japanese universities through the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program for Global Issues (SATREPS), and will continue to maintain and strengthen this relationship.
Therefore, we have decided to invite these university officials to Japan in order to deepen their understanding of Japan, strengthen ties with Japanese universities, and develop and facilitate future collaborative projects.
Contents
The main programs are as follows
The JICA Chair Lecture “History of Educational Development in Japan and Current Situation of Higher Education” was given by Ms. Nobuko Kayashima, Advisor, Sadako Ogata Institute for Peace and Development, JICA: Participants actively asked questions and exchanged opinions regarding the consistency of Japan’s educational policy and the incorporation of national universities. Mr. Kayashima, Advisor to the JICA Chair, pointed out that the Japanese government had consistently held the belief that “education is the foundation of the nation’s future” since before World War II, and the importance of sufficient communication between the national government and universities regarding the incorporation of national universities.
(2) Visit to MEXT: Mr. Shigeakira Katayanagi, Assistant Director, National University Corporation Support Division, Higher Education Bureau, MEXT, explained about the national university corporation system.
(3) Visit to the University of Tokyo: Takao Someya, Vice President and Executive Officer/Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, gave a presentation on startup creation efforts and the current status and issues after incorporation, followed by a case study presentation on social implementation of research results by Tomonori Nagayama, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering.
(4) Visit to the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS): Professor Andrea Pressero introduced the “Understanding Japan Program” implemented by GRIPS. In addition, we observed a part of the program (cultural experience: flower arrangement and calligraphy).
(5) Visit to Kyoto University: Courtesy visit to President Nagahiro Minato, University Headquarters (Director Inagaki and others), and Center for African Area Studies and Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (Professor Motoki Takahashi and others).
Through these programs, participants commented, “I was impressed by the Japanese hospitality and system. I learned firsthand that the connections between people will develop into the next achievement. I would like to make use of what I learned about Japan’s educational development history and policies in university administration.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Addis Ababa University and the JICA Ethiopia Office for the continued implementation of the JICA Chair is scheduled to be signed in mid to late February. In addition, JICA Chair implementation in Ethiopia with the cooperation of the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University is also under consideration.
JICA will continue to support the development of human resources and partnerships among universities.
JICA Chair Lecture by Kayashima Institute Advisor
Exchange of opinions at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Group photo with Vice President Someya of the University of Tokyo and others
Group photo with GRIPS Professor Presse-Lo
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