On January 29, Qatar University President Hassan Al-Derham visited Waseda University to attend a signing ceremony for the Chair of the State Of Qatar For Islamic Area Studies At Waseda University.

This agreement, which aims to enhance academic exchange between Qatar and Waseda universities and bolster collaborative research in Islamic area studies, was proposed by former university president Kaoru Kamata when H. H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar visited Japan in February 2015. The universities have prepared for this agreement based on this proposal since then. Specifically, the agreement will facilitate appointing researchers, holding joint international conferences, conducting collaborative research, translating books from Japanese to Arabic and vice versa, inviting and sending students as well as faculty from both universities, and disseminating research results at events such as international symposiums.

During the meeting, Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka thanked President Al-Derham for the efforts taken place to conclude this agreement as well as him visiting campus. President Al-Derham also mentioned how Japan has supported Qatar in the energy field since the early 1970s and thanked Waseda’s active involvement up until the signing ceremony. Both presidents agreed to continue discussions on how the agreement will unfold in the future.