Strengthening Global Partnerships: Kumamoto University’s Strategic UK Visit
From June 25 to July 3, 2026, a delegation from Kumamoto University, led by Vice President Masato Miyake, conducted an intensive mission to the United Kingdom, marking a significant step forward in the university’s commitment to international academic excellence and global collaboration.The delegation engaged in high-level discussions with world-leading institutions. At the University of Cambridge, the team successfully held a joint workshop between Kumamoto University’s Eisei-Bunko Research Center and Cambridge’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, focusing on Japanese historical sources and cultural resources. They also explored avenues for enhanced researcher and student mobility within the Faculty of Engineering, meeting with Professor Dongfang Liang—a visiting professor at Kumamoto University who has maintained a long-standing research partnership with our faculty.
At Durham University, the delegation held productive meetings across three primary pillars: Japanese studies, disaster resilience, and engineering. During discussions with the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, both institutions identified the potential to leverage the Eisei-Bunko Research Center’s historical archives and AI-OCR expertise to foster new interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, the delegation engaged with faculty from the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR) to share insights on disaster mitigation and climate resilience, actively identifying aligned research interests. These conversations highlighted a strong mutual commitment to promoting faculty-level joint research, establishing research-led student mobility programs, and pursuing joint funding opportunities. In addition, during an exchange of views with the Department of Engineering, we shared an understanding regarding the potential for joint research, particularly in the fields of semiconductors and nanotechnology. The visit also featured a tour of the Oriental Museum, sparking ideas for future collaborative exhibitions designed to bridge Northern England with Kumamoto’s rich cultural heritage. In a formal meeting with Professor Claire O’Malley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), both universities reaffirmed their existing MOU and student exchange agreement. The leadership teams agreed to deepen institutional cooperation, designating above three strategic pillars for future collaborative research and student mobility programs.
During the visit, the delegation also engaged in preliminary discussions with the Teikyo University Durham Campus regarding potential opportunities for future cooperation.
Beyond university partnerships, the delegation solidified ties with major research organizations, including the Embassy of Japan in the UK and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) London. These meetings were instrumental in mapping out the next steps for international collaborative research.
This visit aligns with the launch of the " Japan-UK Frontier Technology Partnership" in June 2026, which provides a timely and strategic framework for strengthening bilateral research collaboration. This initiative creates a favorable environment for our ongoing efforts, offering a solid foundation upon which we can build. By fostering these relationships and identifying tangible pathways for research and mobility, Kumamoto University is actively advancing its globalization goals. Moving forward, the university remains dedicated to nurturing global innovation and providing our students and researchers with expanded opportunities for international engagement.
Read more about the joint workshop HERE.
Meeting with Professor Dongfang Liang (second from right), Faculty of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Professor Dongfang Liang leading the delegation on a tour of the Dyson Centre for Engineering Design
Professor Tsuguharu Inaba of Kumamoto University presenting at the joint workshop co-organized by the Eisei-Bunko Research Center and the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Vice President Masato Miyake of Kumamoto University (left) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) Claire O’Malley of Durham University
Meeting with faculty members from the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University
Meeting with faculty members from the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR), Durham University
Meeting with faculty members from the Department of Engineering
Touring the Japanese collection at the Oriental Museum
Meeting with the Principal (far left), Bursar (center) and staff from Teikyo University of Japan in Durham
In front of Lafcadio Hearn Cultural Centre, together with English faculty members from Teikyo University of Japan in Durham