Dialogue between Waseda Vice President Morita and EU Ambassador
Fri, Dec 4, 2015On December 2, Waseda University welcomed Ambassador of the European Union to Japan, Viorel Isticioaia-Budura, to participate in a one-on-one dialogue with Waseda Vice President for International Affairs, Norimasa Morita. The dialogue will be featured in volume four of the Japanese Journal of European Studies, which is to be published by the Organization for Regional and Inter-regional studies (ORIS) and the European Union Institute in Japan at Waseda University (EUIJ Waseda). Associate Professor Hidetoshi Nakamura, Head of European Research Unit, and Deputy Director of EUIJ served as moderator.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ambassador Isticioaia-Budura and Vice President Morita discussed a variety of topics such as the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Waseda’s role in international issues, and academic collaboration between Waseda and EU institutions.
Both agreed on the importance of economic and political partnerships such as the SPA and FTA. In regards to international issues such as the ongoing migration and refugee crisis affecting Europe, Vice President Morita and Professor Nakamura expressed admiration towards the EU and their handling of the social crisis. Vice President Morita discussed Waseda’s desire to welcome and support students from troubled areas as well as the possibility of working with the EU to redirect troubled students from Europe to Waseda. Ambassador Isticioaia-Budura commended Waseda’s research partnerships with EU institutions and applauded the University’s participation in joint research programs such as the Erasmus Mundus. Vice President Morita, Ambassador Isticioaia-Budura, and Professor Nakamura, joined by Ms Sarah Wooten, Head of the Press, Public and Cultural Affairs Section of the EU Delegation, continued their discussion over lunch where they expressed hopes to deepen collaboration and further international activities throughout Europe.
