From Monday, October 24 to Thursday, October 27, 2016, the Japan Association of National Universities (JANU) received a delegation from Universities Australia (UA), under the Japan-Australia Short-term Staff Exchange and Training Program. This program was conducted based on the Academic Links Agreement* signed by JANU and UA in September 2015. Last fiscal year, 13 administration staff members from Japanese national universities were sent to Australia; this fiscal year, JANU invited a total of eight people from Australia to Japan, including UA’s Deputy Chief Executive Catoriona Jackson and others at the vice-president level at Australian universities.

　The Short-term Staff Exchange and Training Program aims to deepen understanding of higher education systems and the status of universities’ international exchanges in Japan and Australia, support the development of partnerships between Japanese and Australian universities, and promote the internationalization of operations of member universities of JANU and UA.

　During the program, an opinion-exchange meeting was held between JANU, the Australian Embassy in Japan, and UA. The UA delegation also participated in the University Reform Symposium, hosted by JANU.

　The UA delegation also visited three institutions (Nagoya University, National Institute for Materials Science, and University of Tsukuba) and participated in a round-table meeting held at the Australian Embassy in Japan, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and related independent corporations.

　JANU will strive to further promote bilateral exchanges between Japanese and Australian universities through these exchange opportunities.

　

[Program Schedule]

October 24 (Mon)	JANU, Australian Embassy, and UA hold an opinion-exchange. Participation in the University Reform Symposium (sponsored by JANU)
October 25 (Tue)	Visit to Nagoya University ・Courtesy visit to President Matsuo, Trustee/Vice President Watanabe ・Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI center) ・Joint Degree Program (Graduate School of Medicine) ・Campus tour (The Nagoya University Museum, and 2008 Nobel Prize Exhibition Hall)
October 26 (Wed)	Round-table meeting at the Australian Embassy in Japan
October 27 (Thu)	Visit to the National Institute for Materials Science ・International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI center） Visit to University of Tsukuba ・Courtesy visit to Executive Director/Vice President Benton ・Global Future Expert in Science and Technology (GFEST) Program ・Core Laboratory for Algal Biomass and Energy System

[Program Scenes]

UA delegation participating in the University Reform Symposium (sponsored by JANU)

 

Posing with participating students after the University Reform Symposium

 

Courtesy visit to Nagoya University
(front left: President Matsuo; far left: Trustee/Vice President Watanabe)

 

Receiving a briefing on the Joint Degree Program
(Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine)

 

Campus tour(1) (The Nagoya University Museum)

 

Campus tour(2) (2008 Nobel Prize Exhibition Hall)

 

In the Australian Embassy garden

 

Receiving a briefing from the National Institute for Materials Science (WPI center)

 

Courtesy visit to University of Tsukuba
(Executive Director/Vice President Benton, fourth from the left)

 

Receiving a briefing from the Global Future Expert in Science and
Technology (GFEST) Program (University of Tsukuba)

 

Receiving a briefing from the Core Laboratory for Algal Biomass and
Energy System (University of Tsukuba)

 

[Related Article]

* JANU Signs an Academic Links Agreement with Universities Australia (September 3, 2015)