Global Advisory Board Meeting AY 2016
Kumamoto University Global Advisory Board Meeting AY 2016 was held on January 27, 2017 at Kumamoto University. This meeting was held to consult with external experts who are well versed in the current university situation and operational approaches taken by universities in and outside Japan regarding development and implementation of our global strategies, promotion of international exchange for students and researchers, and implementation of our slogan, “A Leading University Cultivating Global Leaders from Kumamoto,”*1 as a university selected for the Top Global University Project*2 established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. We will reflect their advice into our operational measures.After an introduction from Vice President for International Affairs Kazuki Takashima regarding Kumamoto University’s efforts to promote globalization based on its concept, the participants, including President Shinji Harada, four Trustees, two related Vice Presidents, three Advisors to the President, and external members, discussed what has to be done to make Kumamoto University a more global institution. During the meeting, the external board members provided many valuable comments on the four policies*3 of Kumamoto University’s project concept, operational measures, and governance reform approaches, as well as advice on how to promote those projects from now on.
After the Advisory Board meeting, “Go Global Seminar,” an event of Kumamoto University Global Youth Campus, was held, in which Prof. Mark Williams and Prof. Marcelo J. Kuroda gave lectures for Kumamoto University students and local high school students.
Incorporating the comments and advice from external board members into our future approaches, we will further promote globalization projects by leveraging strengths unique to Kumamoto University, an attractive university open to the world.
External board members (honorifics omitted, Japanese alphabetical order)
- Takanori Sonoda, Senior Fellow, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
- Mark Williams, Professor, University of Leeds, UK
- Marcelo J. Kuroda, Professor, Tulane University, New Orleans, USA
- Yoshinao Mishima, President, Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Miyoko Watanabe, Deputy Executive Director of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Director of the Center for Science Communication
*1. Please refer to the following website for Kumamoto University’s Top Global University Project slogan “A Leading University Cultivating Global Leaders from Kumamoto.”
http://www.c3.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/college/sgu/
*2. Founded in 2014, the Top Global University Project, a (maximum) ten-year project, aims to support universities that make efforts to globalize and strengthen international competitiveness. It works to establish a sound educational environment by carrying out university reforms and globalization measures.
*3. Four policies for Kumamoto University’s project concept
1. Introduction of an undergraduate educational system with high international standards
2. Global atmosphere for the inclusion of international students
3. Strengthened and Globalized Graduate Education to Support Cutting-edge Research
4. Global Campus as a Driving Force for Internationalization in the Local Community
President Shinji Harada greeting attendees
Vice President Kazuki Takashima introducing Kumamoto University’s approaches to its slogan, “A Leading University Cultivating Global Leaders from Kumamoto”
External board members giving their opinions