Vice-President Ihara Pays Courtesy Visits to the University of Leeds (U.K.) and JSPS London
Located in the center of the northern industrial regions of England, the University of Leeds was founded in 1904. As a leading university in the U.K., it has received acclaim in evaluations conducted by public rating agencies in areas including linguistics and language education, philosophy, law, medical science, electric and electronic engineering, and Asian studies. It particularly plays a leadership role in linguistics and language education. Kumamoto University and the University of Leeds have exchanged students bilaterally since a university-level exchange agreement was concluded in 2006.
Vice-President Ihara and two officials from the International Affairs Division visited the International Student Office and the Japanese Language Course offices. They exchanged views with those involved in the dispatch and acceptance of students concerning summer programs and the status of exchanges with other universities.
In the promotion session, they also introduced Kumamoto University to students from the University of Leeds who were interested in studying in Japan. The participants felt a new sense of affinity to our university, and an increased interest in attending it, thanks to the presentation of Yui Nagao, a student at the Faculty of Education of Kumamoto University who is currently studying at the University of Leeds.
On the next day, March 18, the Vice-President and the two officials visited the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) London, and exchanged opinions with Professor Kozo Hiramatsu, Director of JSPS London, regarding the latest trends in academic research and higher education. In addition, they talked with Yoshinori Suzuki, Liaison Officer of Keio University about the activities of the Keio University London Office.
It is hoped that these visits will further promote student and academic exchanges between Kumamoto University and the University of Leeds, as well as with other higher education institutions in the U.K.