From June 23 to June 29, 2019, the Japan Association of National Universities (JANU) and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO-RIHED) jointly held the 1st SEAMEO RIHED-JANU Seminar and Study Visit to Japan, under which JANU received people involved in higher education in ASEAN countries.

　This exchange program was conducted based on the agreement signed by JANU and SEAMEO-RIHED last year (in 2018). The 1st SEAMEO RIHED-JANU Seminar and Study Visit program was held under the theme of “Technology Innovation and Social Engagement for Sustainable Development,” inviting a total of 12 people to Japan, including Dr. Chantavit Sujatanond, Centre Director, SEAMEO RIHED and presidents of universities in ASEAN countries.

　In this program, the delegation visited five universities (Osaka University, Kansai University, Kobe University, Kyoto University and Ritsumeikan University) located in the Kansai region to deepen their understanding of the Japanese higher education system and each university’s activities related to the program theme, and exchange opinions on the possibilities for future international exchange.

　In addition, they visited private companies (DAIKIN Technology and Innovation Center and NEC Future Creation Hub KANSAI) and cultural facilities (the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, Osaka Castle, and Nijo Castle). Through these visits, they deepened their knowledge in a wide range of areas, such as advanced technologies including biometrics and image analysis, the current state of industry-academia collaboration, disaster prevention/mitigation, and the preservation of cultural properties.

　It is expected that inter-university exchange between Japan and ASEAN countries will be more active. JANU will strive to further expand exchanges between the two sides by cooperating with SEAMEO-RIHED.

 

【Program Schedule】

Date	Schedule
June 23 (Sun)	Evening   Welcome Dinner & Program Orientation
June 24 (Mon)	Morning   Seminar at Osaka University“Enhancing Regional Cooperation   and Development: Collaboration Initiatives   between Japanese and Southeast   Asian Higher Education Institutions Afternoon   Courtesy visit to Osaka University   – Future Design Section, Center for     Open Innovation Research and Education (COiRE)   Visit to Osaka Castle
June 25(Tue)	Morning   Visit to Kansai University   – COIL Program   – Organization for Research and Development of      Innovative Science and Technology (ORDIST)   – Center for Innovation and Creativity   – Collaborative Research Center of Engineering,     Medicine and Pharmacology (CEMP) Afternoon   Visit to DAIKIN Technology and Innovation Center (TIC)   Visit to NEC Future Creation Hub KANSAI
June 26 (Wed)	Morning   Visit to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial   Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI) Afternoon   Visit to Kobe University – Innovative BioProduction Kobe (iBioK)
June 27 (Thu)	Morning   Visit to Kyoto University   – Value Creating Design Hub for Super-Ageing Societies Afternoon   – Center for Southeast Asian Studies   – Disaster Prevention Research Institute
June 28 (Fri)	Morning   Visit to Ritsumeikan University   – Institute of Disaster Mitigation for Urban Cultural Heritage Afternoon   Visit to Nijo Castle Evening   Farewell Dinner
June 29 (Sat)	Leaving for home

 

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Participants exchanging opinions at the seminar organized by JANU	Presentation held at Osaka University
Receiving explanation on a research project at Kansai University	Receiving explanation on a project from DAIKIN Technology and Innovation Center
Tsunami evacuation experience at DRI	Visit to Kobe University iBioK
Networking at Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University	Group photo at – Institute of Disaster Mitigation for Urban Cultural Heritage, Ritsumeikan University