From 23 – 24 May 2024, Professor Beverley Anne YAMAMOTO, Executive Vice President for International Affairs (Education) and Professor Masaharu NOMACHI, Regional Director of the European Center for Academic Initiatives, visited the University of Groningen (UG) and attended a Strategic Partner Forum, organized as part of UG’s 410th anniversary.

The forum commenced with welcoming remarks from Professor Jacquelien Scherpen, Rector of UG. Subsequently, Professor Janny de Jong, Endowed Professor of Europe-East Asia Relations, introduced the MA Euroculture Program, after which Professor YAMAMOTO provided comments.

In the afternoon, Professor Jouke de Vries, President of UG, delivered a speech, followed by an introduction from Nobel Laureate Professor Ben Feringa. Round table discussions on the internationalization of universities were held, covering topics such as leadership in internationalization and obstacles in change, resulting in active and lively exchanges.

In the morning of 24 May, a special session titled, "Impact Creation in Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness," was held with participants from UG, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Osaka University (OU). During the session, Professor YAMAMOTO introduced Associate Professor Megumi SUGIMOTO of the Graduate School of Human Sciences, who presented remotely, covering topics such as disaster prevention and support, as well as touching on the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. Professor NOMACHI followed this with an introduction to the Hamadori Radiation Environment Training organized by OU and conducted in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Throughout the forum, members of the three universities engaged in dialog regarding the potential for future joint research and educational programs.