Waseda University (location: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; President: Katsuhiko Shirai) and Kyushu University (location: Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City; President: Chisato Kajiyama) have signed a “Basic Cooperative Agreement” aimed at developing and enriching research and education.
This agreement seeks to contribute to the mutual development of research, education, cooperation between industry and academia and to international exchange at both universities.
The following are the hopes and expectations each university holds for this cooperative agreement.
Waseda University
The traditions and history of Kyushu University span nearly a century; they have built a foundation as a comprehensive national university through their education and research, links with society and through international exchange.
History even links Waseda University with Kyushu, as the founder of Waseda, Shigenobu Okuma, comes from Saga Prefecture; and the two universities also have a geographical connection as Kyushu University is close to Kitakyushu Science and Research Park where Waseda has established post-graduate research institutes and laboratories which engage in educational research and development activities.
Furthermore, Kyushu University, through the realization of the “Geographic・Historic Necessity of an Orientation towards Asia”, and Waseda University, with its slogan promoting the “Symbiotic Creation of Knowledge in the Asia-Pacific region”, are together deepening the cooperative links between universities in Asia.
This cooperative agreement makes it possible to consider joint research between Waseda and Kyushu University, a prime example being the development and expansion of the Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems at the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park.
In addition, it is our hope that, as part of Kyushu and Waseda University’s joint adoption of the “Open to Asia Universities” project as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Strategic Fund for Establishing International Headquarters in Universities,” international activities will be promoted and strengthened through the establishment of a cooperative framework which allows for the effective, regular exchange of personnel and information and for the mutual use of each other’s overseas offices.
Through the development and expansion of links between our two universities stemming from this framework agreement, we expect further growth and enrichment in education and research.
Photo, left: Kyushu University President, Chisato Kajiyama; right: Waseda University President Katsuhiko Shirai
Kyushu University
In two years time, Waseda University will mark the 125th anniversary of its founding and its establishment as a ‘glocal’ (global + local) university. It continues to strive towards the formation of a network of people and information in the Asia-Pacific region and towards being a highly competitive university within the world at large.
Kyushu University also seeks to foster internationally active people, and in our education charter we place importance on contributing to the world culturally, socially, and economically and to contributing locally – focused on Asia. We hope that both universities – with their emphasis on Asia – through the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Strategic Fund for Establishing International Headquarters in Universities,” will strengthen their cooperative relationship in regards to the exchange of information and persons, the development of joint projects and their shared use of overseas offices to further their goals internationally.
Furthermore, it is our hope that this cooperative agreement between Waseda and Kyushu University will functionally enhance the links between industry, academia and government which Waseda already actively promotes – both within and without the university – through its formation of a system for new industries and projects and through its creation and fostering of university launched venture businesses.
We also hope that through a close-knit, cooperative arrangement with Tokyo-based Waseda University in terms of class linkage and joint research, etc., our university will benefit regionally and be able to bolster the amount that it has to offer.
【For more information】Waseda University Office of Public Relations
