Hyderabad, 24 October 2024: IIT Hyderabad JAPAN ACADEMIC DAY 2024, held on October 21-22 in collaboration with JICA, successfully concluded as a part of Japan Month 2024, designated by the Embassy of Japan in India. A total of 72 participants from 15 universities and 6 organizations from Japan participated, including representatives from the Embassy of Japan, JICA, and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The event was honoured by the presence of Chief Guest Dr. HASHIMOTO Kazuhito, President of JST, Guest of Honor Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Japan and Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative of the JICA India Office. Twenty booths were set up on the IITH campus for students to learn more about universities, higher education, research opportunities, and scholarship information in Japan. Students, faculty members, and others also engaged in discussions with Japanese professors and representatives from universities about opportunities such as joint supervision, internships, industrial collaboration, and joint proposal writing.
Prof. BS Murty, Director of IITH spoke on this occasion, stating “IITH has a strong bilateral relationship with Japan since 2008. I am a strong believer that collaborations bring synergy for the mutual growth. Together, we can create wonders. I thank the Japan Embassy and Japanese Universities and organizations for coming forward to enhance collaboration and strengthen ties between IITH and Japan through education and research”.
Mr. Ariyoshi Takashi, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Japan, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hold Japan Academic Day at IITH and said “This wonderful event will be the start of a new joint research between IITH and Japan, as well as an opportunity for IITH students to studying in Japan. I recognize that one of the barriers to study in Japan is learning Japanese, but there are an increasing number of universities in Japan where you can obtain a degree in English only. In addition, Japanese research institutions have unique and world-leading technology, and there is a great potential for collaboration with IITH”. Highlighting the critical need for international cooperation in addressing global challenges like climate change and infectious diseases, Mr. Ariyoshi noted recent scientific achievements, such as India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and Japan’s SLIM mission. He underscored the significance of human resource exchange to enhance India-Japan collaboration in science and technology. On this occasion, Mr. Ariyoshi introduced two people-to-people exchange initiatives being undertaken by the Embassy of Japan. First, there is the scholarship for government-sponsored students called “MEXT Scholarship”.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) provides Scholarships for students who wish to pursue a Masters or Doctoral Degree at a Japanese university. Second, the Embassy is currently accepting applications for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. It invites young people from overseas to contribute to foreign language education and international exchange work at Japanese local governments and educational institutions.
Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative of JICA India, stated, “I believe that one of JICA’s most important missions is to deepen the multi-layered human exchange between India and Japan. India offers many attractions for Japan, including a huge market with a large number of young and talented individuals, excellent digital infrastructure and technology, and one of the world’s leading start-up ecosystems. Conversely, Japan possesses many qualities that are essential for India’s development, such as excellent research facilities, advanced technology, valuable knowledge, and a hardworking and meticulous work ethic etc. JICA aims to be a catalyst for Japan and India to leverage their strengths, complement each other’s weaknesses, and build many mutually beneficial relationships together.”
Participating Institutes from Japan included Gifu University, Hiroshima University, Hokkaido University, Kanazawa University, Kumamoto University, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, Nara Women’s University, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Ochanomizu University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo City University, University of Tsukuba, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan Society for the promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), Embassy of Japan in India, JICA, Mobility and Behaviour Innovation Forum, Tech Japan.