“Waseda University Day” at Peking University

　Since December of 2003, with the establishment of the “Organization for Collaborative Educational Research between Waseda University and Peking University”, Wasesda University (President: Katsuhiko Shirai) has been at the forefront of collaborative educational research with China, which is undergoing rapid reforms and innovations in the field of higher education. This cooperation in educational research has produced concrete benefits for both schools, such as a double degree system between the two which began in September of this year at Peking University (President: Xu Zhihong), and the first-ever Japan-China joint university courses.

　On Tuesday, December 6, 2005, Peking University held a “Waseda University Day” on its campus in order to show the general public the fruits of many years of academic exchange with Waseda. On the same day President Shirai held a joint press conference with President Xu and was presented with an honorary professorship.

Summary of “Waseda University Day”

　“University Day” is an honor Peking University bestows upon foreign universities with whom it shares meaningful exchange.  Other universities which have been given a “University Day” include Cornell University, Stanford University, Yale University, France’s École Normale Supérieure, Free University of Berlin, Moscow University, Cambridge University and Oxford University; however, “Waseda University Day” is the first “University Day” Peking University has made for an affiliate university in Asia.

　Waseda University and Peking University formally began exchanges in 1982 with the signing of an academic exchange agreement; however, even before this time students and faculty of both universities were actively working together in a variety of capacities. In 2003, both universities began working together to nurture collaborative projects between doctoral students, and, in December of the same year, the “Organization for Collaborative Educational Research between Waseda University and Peking University” was created to systematize collaborative educational research projects across all disciplines. Furthermore, in 2005 – as one of its projects – the “Organization for Collaborative Educational Research between Waseda University and Peking University” put in place the double degree system, which currently has 15 students from Peking University studying at Waseda and 14 students from Waseda studying at Peking University.

　The current change in feeling of the people of Japan and China (particularly the younger generation) towards one another, stemming from stalled political exchange and dialogue, is a worrying development. “Waseda University Day” was held at Peking University amidst this troubled climate in order to both show society at large the fruits of university-led academic exchange and to display publicly what both universities have done for person-to-person exchange and for human resources development: tasks that educational institutions need to play a role in shouldering.

■Program for “Waseda University Day”

【 １ 】“Waseda University Day” Opening Ceremony / Bestowal of Peking University Honorary Professorship
Venue: Peking University, School of International Studies

【 ２ 】Press Conference
Venue: Peking University, School of International Studies

【 ３ 】Symposium and Reports of Research Results
(held concurrently in several locations)

３－１ Title Waseda University-Peking University Collaborative Symposium: “The Environment and Sustainable Development” Panelist Ye Wen Hu; Chaiperson of the Center for Sustainable Development in China at Peking University; Professor in the College of Environmental Sciences Speaker Takeshi Hara; Professor in the Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies Venue Peking University International Conference Center, 2nd Floor

３－２ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “Center for Practical Nano-Chemistry”） Speaker Kuniaki Tastuta; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering Venue Peking University Chemistry

３－３ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “Productive ICT Academia Program”） Speaker Yoichi Muraoka; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering Venue Peking University Room 2736

３－４ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “The Creation of Contemporary Asian Studies） Speaker Kazuko Mori; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Political Science and Economics Venue Peking University School of International Studies Room 105

３－５ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “Holistic Research and Education Center for Physics of Self-organization Systems”） Speaker Shin’ichi Ishiwata; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering Venue Peking University Center for Contemporary Physics

３－６ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “The Innovative Research on Symbiosis Technologies for Human and Robots in the Elderly Dominated Society”） Speaker Masakatsu Fujie; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering Venue Peking University Room 2306

３－７ Title Lecture (Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “The Transformation of Corporate Society and System Creation”） Speaker Tatsuo Uemura; Professor in the Waseda University School of Law Venue Peking University

３－８ Title Lecture（Waseda University 21st Century COE Program: “Research Center for Enhancing Local Cultures in Asia”） Speaker Koichiro Inahata; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences Venue Peking University Centennial Lecture Hall Room 202

３－９ Title Lecture (Peking University ACOM Financial Information Research Center） Speaker Tomoaki Sakano; Professor in the Waseda University Faculty of Commerce Venue Exchange Center No. 8 Meeting Room