Outline

Gifu Joint Degree Symposium 2020 Overview

Chairperson of Gifu JD Symposium Organization Committee

Dr. Makoto Sugiyama
Vice President (General Manager and International Affairs)
Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, Gifu University

Organizing Committee:

- Professor Yoshihiko Uematsu, Presidential Advisor, Executive Director for GU-GLCOAL
- Professor Hiroyuki Koyama, Vice Presidential Advisor, Associate Director for GU-GLOCAL
- Professor Yoshihito Ueno, Division Head, International Collaborative Education Promotion Division, GU-GLOCAL, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences
- Specially Appointed Professor Shinichi Miwa, GU-GLOCAL
- Professor Takahisa Nishizu, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences
- Professor Shoichi Kutsumizu, Faculty of Engineering
- Mr. Shinya Kitano, Manager, International Engagement Division, Student Affairs Department, Director of International Affairs and Planning

Summary & Objectives

It is a great honor and privilege for me to extend my cordial welcome to this “Gifu Joint Degree Symposium 2020” webinar.

On April 1, 2020, as the nation’s first academic integration scheme, “Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS)” was officially launched, integrating two major educational institutions in the central Japan region namely – Gifu University and Nagoya University into one single institutional framework. As a responsible member of this new academic entity, we remain committed to contributing to the well-being of our local communities.

In April 2019, Gifu University launched four distinctive international graduate Joint Degree (JD) programs, established on the strong alliance forged between our institution and our overseas partner universities – Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IITG, India) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM, Malaysia).

Currently at Nagoya University, six international collaborative programs are implemented with the following institutions – University of Edinburgh (U.K.), University of Adelaide (Australia), Lund University (Sweden), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Germany), Kasetsart University (Thailand) and the University of Western Australia (Australia). As of April 2020, a total of 21 international collaborative programs are being offered in Japan, half of which are hosted by THERS. Under this new, comprehensive integrative academic framework, THERS, through our strategic international JD operations, is poised to further extend the fruits of our educational and research benefits to all our important stakeholders and contribute to the well-being of all the members of our local and international communities.

For this year’s symposium, we have chosen the theme: “Joint Degree Programs in Post-Coronavirus Era.” The symposium includes three main sessions spread over 2 days:

Day 1 – Tuesday, December 8, 2020 (morning)
Session 1 “Main Symposium”
This session is hosted by THERS. In this session, presenters from both Nagoya University and Gifu University will present the various JD initiatives/programs currently implemented in their respective institutions with the aim of helping university teaching faculty and administrative staff enrich their understanding of international joint degree programs, and highlight important insights, benefits, as well as challenges for those involved in such collaborations at their institutions now and in the future.

Day 1 – Tuesday, December 8, 2020 (afternoon)
Session 2 “Academic Session”
This session is moderated by Gifu University. In this session, presenters will address various programs and projects mobilized under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) efforts which have already been undertaken in Japan, India and Malaysia. Since one of the key missions of our international JD programs is “Strategic Scenario for Sustainable Development of Regions”, presenters will address collaborative ways of achieving the goals set by the SDGs. High on the agenda will be the promotion of eco-friendly “Green and Smart Technologies” driven by regional development plans and local industry initiatives. This participatory session will further explore concrete ideas for projects that can be potentially undertaken with private industries.

Day 2 – Wednesday, December 9. 2020 (afternoon)
Session 3 “Industry-Government-Academia-Banking Institution Collaboration Session”
This final session hosted by Gifu University explores the key discussions and results in Session 2 and connects them to the theme of industry-government-academia-banking institution collaboration. Presenters will then introduce some related case studies of “industry-academia-government and banking institution collaboration” that we hope will support the revitalization of regional development in the Tokai Region (Japan), Northeast India and Malaysia.

I sincerely look forward to welcoming your participation and hope that this symposium will bring forth fruitful exchanges of knowledge and ideas as we together shape the future of international JD programs in the post-COVID world.