The 10th Kumamoto University Forum (Surabaya) held.
On November 25 (Mon), a signing ceremony for an inter-university academic exchange agreement between UNAIR and Kumamoto University was held at UNAIR. In the ceremony, after speeches by President H. Fasich, Apt of UNAIR and President Isao Taniguchi of Kumamoto University, Vice Dean Yasuharu Nishimura of Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University explained the circumstances of this agreement.
In the afternoon, researchers and students interacted with each other at the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Public Health, and Faculty of Humanities of UNAIR. Also, at ITS, special lectures by professors from our university were given at all six venues, attended by over 600 researchers and students in total.
On November 26 (Tue), using the Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers as the venue, the Forum was opened with an opening address by the Forum Chair and Vice President Shinji Harada. After the opening of the Forum, signing ceremonies for the agreement of “Double Degree Program” for master's degree courses between ITS and our university, and the renewal of inter-university academic and student exchanges agreement between the Consortium of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember and our university were held respectively. Keynote speeches were then given by presidents of the three universities―Kumamoto University, ITS, and UNAIR.
In the afternoon, participants were divided into two venues according to the natural sciences- and life sciences-related group and human and social sciences-related group, and were given an introduction to the faculties and graduate schools of those universities from Indonesia and Japan, as well as presentations regarding recent research.
In the meantime, various events were held concurrently with this Forum, such as a courtesy visit to Consul General Noboru Nomura of Consulate-General Japan at Surabaya by presidents of the three universities, an exchange meeting for our university’s alumni living in Indonesia; a booth exhibition intended to introduce Kumamoto prefectural and municipal governments, the Consortium Kumamoto, and “HIGO Program,” Kumamoto University’s Program for Leading Graduate Schools; and a panel exhibition that introduced the three universities’ faculties and departments. Furthermore, high interest in this Forum was proven with a press conference by the local media.
Having attracted over 400 participants, such as faculty members and students from ITS and UNAIR to the events held at the Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers, the Forum ended in success.
Deeper inter-university exchanges between Indonesia and Japan were shown through a letter from approximately 40 students of the Department of Japanese Studies of UNAIR to our university that was introduced during the class on November 28 (Thu) after the closing of the Forum. With this Forum as a trigger, further advancement of international exchanges between the two countries can be expected.
