Building on Tokyo Tech’s strengths as a world-leading research institute for science and engineering, the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering (TSE) offers GSEP, the first undergraduate engineering degree program at Tokyo Tech conducted entirely in English for talented students from around the world.  |  © Tokyo Tech 

“What is unique about GSEP is that students can enroll even if they have never studied Japanese before,” shared Masu.

Tokyo Tech is also committed to enhancing partnerships with ASEAN countries and universities, with the goal of jointly contributing to science and technology fields.

To foster connections with universities outside Japan, Tokyo Tech has established the TAIST (Thailand Advanced Institute of Technology) – Tokyo Tech joint education program, Tokyo Tech ANNEX in Bangkok, and the ASPIRE League in cooperation with other Asian universities including NTU (Nanyang Technological University), Singapore.

“The level of education and research among ASEAN countries has advanced greatly, and in order to keep advancing, we must continue to collaborate with each other,” said Masu.

www.titech.ac.jp/english
www.tse.ens.titech.ac.jp/~gsep
www.titech.ac.jp/english/graduate_school/international/international_graduate

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As we celebrate our 30^th year in Thailand, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) will continue to promote scientific exchange and support researchers throughout the region.

www.jsps-th.org/jsps_en

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University of Alberta, Faculty of Arts Building  |  © Flickr.com/IQRemix

www.ualberta.ca/ptjc
www.jacac.com

A message from Lesley Cormack, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta:

“The Prince Takamado Japan Centre’s (PTJC) promotion of the Japanese language and culture in Canada aligns with the University of Alberta and Faculty of Arts’ commitment to enabling bold and productive opportunities for dialogue, meaningful national and international collaboration, cross-disciplinary research and creative activity. The PTJC is helping to facilitate stronger academic links between Japan and Canada by fostering new teaching and research opportunities. The PTJC’s most successful and sustained programs have advanced Japan-Canada student mobility through extensive collaboration with other universities and sponsors.”

www.ualberta.ca
www.ualberta.ca/ptjc

Erika Rodning, 2015, University of Alberta:

“Following my involvement with the Forum, I travelled to Japan for a month-long backpacking trip around the country. I was able to connect with a dozen of connections I had made through the program, and the information I had learned about the country came to life before my eyes. My travels… are merely the beginning of a long relationship to come with Japan – something I can attribute to JACAC.”

www.ualberta.ca

Gabriel Chen, 2012/2013, University of British Columbia:

“Participating in JACAC really expanded my network as I met people from all over Japan and Canada.  I created many strong friendships… Whenever I travel in Japan or Canada, I try to visit some ex-JACAC participants and they are always happy to give me a tour of their city.  I also have had a few participants visit me in Vancouver, and I had a great time showing them around.”

www.ubc.ca

Kenta Natsume, 2016, Hosei University:

“After the forum, I started being interested in environmental issues more because the theme of the forum was energy and society… I simply try to be eco-friendly more after the forum. Personally, I noticed that it is a good thing to interact with people with various backgrounds in order to broaden horizon. For example, one of the Canadian participants have so different ideas from mine. That is why I decided to study abroad… in the U.S. as an exchange student.”

www.hosei.ac.jp/english

Takaya Tokuyama, Kwansei Gakuin University:

“It was so surprising to me how closely KGU and Canada have been helped each other for a long time… JACAC helped me deepen the understandings of the detail about the relationship between my university and Canada. I decided to take more Canada studies courses to develop the knowledge that I could gain in this forum. The most impressive thing on this program is all friendship and connections that I could build. All the participants are absolutely amazing people, and they all seek their interests with a big passion for their dreams. Working and spending time with those passionate people were so fabulous that I already miss all of them.”

global.kwansei.ac.jp

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Nine research centers of strategic importance to the country and the region are advancing knowledge in critical areas. The nine centers are: National Water Center; Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Center for Health Sciences; Roadway, Transportation and Traffic Safety Research Center; Emirates University Center for Public Policy and Leadership; Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; Emirates Center for Energy and Environmental Research; National Space Science and Technology Center; Emirates Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment; and Emirates Center for Happiness Research.

In addition, the Science and Innovation Park, through its business incubators, serves as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership to foster the transitioning of the UAE economy toward a knowledge economy.

The university has established student exchange programs and collaborations with Akita University, The University of Tokyo, Hokkaido University, Fujita Health University and Waseda University.

The Sakura Club, established in 2009, was the first cultural club formed in UAEU by a group of female students with an interest in Japanese culture. The main aim of the club is to encourage cultural exchanges between the UAE and Japan. The club also regularly organizes cultural activities such as the UAE-Japan Week, holds conferences with Japanese universities, participates in an exchange program with Fujimigaoka High School and arranges trips to Japan to enhance cultural knowledge and immersion.

The university aspires to be the “university of the future” with goals to become a top-20 academic institution in Asia and a top-200 academic institution globally.

With education increasingly growing as a vital pillar for the Middle East, UAEU aims to become the national hub in research and entrepreneurship, as well as the primary destination for collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental agencies, organizations, industry and international agencies.

By 2020, university students will participate in new types of learning experiences, access new kinds of learning resources and deal with a broader range of knowledge providers than ever before. As such, new technologies are expected to flourish in the future, including 3D printing, the “internet of things,” artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality and gamification — areas in which the UAE will be at the forefront of.

“While we will strive to produce indigenous leaders of the highest caliber in different areas, we also aim to attract international scholars to create a vibrant and interactive learning environment that advances the region technologically; strengthens its heritage, culture and tradition; and benefits humanity. We have attained top rankings over the years and we intend to keep it that way, while improving as we go along. Our aim is to be known as a world-class university, providing only the best education to students,” said Professor Mohamed Albaili, vice chancellor of UAEU.

“Not knowing precisely every detail of the change coming, the only insurance we have is simply the nimbleness and agility to move, shift and find our course. The future does not wait — it is constantly at our doorstep and we must ensure to take action today to be prepared accordingly for tomorrow. We are on the right track, but many changes will have to take place for us to continue following that path and ensure continued success in the near future. The future is what the UAE, as a country, looks to and what we, at the UAEU, have ambitious plans for.”

www.uaeu.ac.ae

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AIT comprises the School of Engineering and Technology, the School of Environment, Resources and Development and the School of Management.

‘We recently transformed our School of Management to meet the modern business education needs of Asia’, says AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

Offering MBA, Masters and Doctoral programs, AIT’s School of Management enables students to study on a full-time or part-time basis during the day, evening or weekend.

“Our duty is to have an impact on developing new leaders in Asia”

‘Our focus as a global business school is to have an impact on developing new leaders in Asia and delivering a high quality, and internationally-focused education platform,’ says Prof. Lawrence S Abeln, Dean of AIT’s School of Management.

‘Thailand is in a great position geographically to be a bridge between India and China. The country is also open to international visitors, has a relatively low-cost of living and offers cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. These factors create opportunities for institutions such as AIT and support our commitment to developing a diversity of leaders and delivering education solutions to the world’.

With a new central Bangkok campus location, AIT’s School of Management is well-positioned for the future.

‘We believe an international business school should be in the heart of a city and close to commerce activity’, says Prof. Abeln. ‘Employees demand different skills today and students require both theory and application in order to take the next step in their careers as international business leaders. Our new campus in the ‘Sukhumvit Business District’ at Asoke, Bangkok will offer students access to leading companies in the heart of Thailand’s dynamic economic capital’.

somadmissions@ait.asia
www.ait.ac.th
www.aitmba.com
www.som.ait.ac.th

Originally an outpost for aboriginals, Tainan City was settled by the Dutch over four hundred years ago before the city became the island’s capital during Japanese occupation. Regarded as an enclave for the Taiwan elite in recent years, the city is a key destination for foreign investment. One of NCKU’s branch campuses is just a five minute drive from the Tainan Science Park. Here Bio-technology firms andcomponent manufacturersare establishing businesses and NCKU is the organizing institution and one of the Park’s main supporters.

‘It is important students understand and appreciatepeople from various backgrounds in order to gain a better understanding of equality’, says Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su, President of NCKU. ‘By encouraging our students to have an openmind, we are confident that our graduates will succeed and face the challenges of ourrapidly changing world. Our students are well-equipped to grasp international opportunities and become successful’.

In addition to welcoming the western-world to Asia, NCKU is also expanding its global footprint. Rather than establishing partnerships with other universities, NCKU has created ‘Alliance Hubs’ in order to better connect international partners. Currently operating in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, these hubs generate collaborations between students, faculty, research partners and local governments who are using the Hubs to share ideas. This year NCKU will establish Hubs in North America and Europe.

‘Our Alliance Hubs and international exchange programs enable us to educate graduates who want to make a positive impact on our world’, says President Su. ‘The majority of our faculty was educated in North America and Europe and today we act as a bridge connecting both Europe and North America to Asia. This makes NCKU a strong player within the global education sector. In the future we intend to strengthen our relationships with governments, education institutions, students and global citizens as they engage with the Asian region’.

web.ncku.edu.tw

In addition to being a leading University in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Dr. Lino Guzzella, President of ETH Zurich see’s the university playing a much broader role in the development of students.

“A good university doesn’t just teach knowledge but the ability to think,” says Guzzella.

Dr. Guzzella’s philosophy has a far-reaching impact as ETH Zurich’s student population is 38% foreign nationals. The university global focus is seen by the development of the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) which was established in 2010 by ETH Zurich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) with a goal of developing sustainable solutions to global challenges.

Through its programs, the center serves as an intellectual hub for research, scholarship, entrepreneurship, postgraduate and postdoctoral training, bringing together principal investigators and researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.

To promote the exchange of ideas and expertise, researchers at the center actively collaborate with universities and research institutes. Engagement with industry and government agencies also helps researchers translate knowledge to action by providing practical solutions to real-world problems.

In 2017, the Singapore-ETH Centre led the inter-institutional Cooling Singapore research project in developing a roadmap to improve thermal comfort in tropical Singapore, in collaboration with CREATE centers established by MIT, TUM and with NUS.

“We look forward to further collaboration with the Singapore-ETH Centre to respond to the future challenges of global environmental sustainability. We hope to see more faculty and students from Singapore coming to our campus in Switzerland and vice versa,” concludes Dr. Lino Guzzella.

“EdUHK boasts the largest critical mass of education experts in Hong Kong and one of the largest in the region, with more than 330 academics drawn from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Our academic team brings regional and international perspectives to our programme offerings and research projects. Over eighty percent of trained kindergarten and primary school teachers and thirty per cent of trained secondary school teachers in Hong Kong are graduates of EdUHK or its predecessor colleges of education”.

EdUHK has established international partnerships with leading universities, nongovernmental organisations and government agencies through exchange opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, joint degree programmes, consultancy as well as research and knowledge transfer projects.

“Our collaborative approach has brought enormous benefits to EdUHK students”, says Professor Cheung. “Our students are able to broaden their horizons and enhance their cultural awareness”.

“We will continue to offer educational excellence and a stimulating academic atmosphere. Come and join us and you will be captivated by both EdUHK and Hong Kong”.

CUHK’s medical school is close to Professor Sung’s heart. A renowned researcher in gastroenterology and hepatology, Professor Sung led his medical team to fight against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003.

“As the era of precision medicine continues to break new ground, CUHK’s Medical School has become a highly regarded faculty”, says Professor Sung. “Established only thirty five years ago, the school is today ranked one of the world’s top fifty medical schools”.

Professor Sung is also proud of CUHK’s role as a bridge to the mainland. “We were the first Hong Kong university to accept mainland students and have close ties to the ‘C9 League’, an alliance of nine elite universities in mainland China. While we enhance our global reputation, we will maintain our China focus by bringing China to the world and opening new horizons”.

Looking forward, CUHK’s ‘Strategic Plan 2016-2020’ is based on three themes: Education – Nurturing lifelong learners as global leaders, Research – Cutting-edge discovery with global impact and societal contributions and Engagement – Recognition of distinctive culture and tradition.

“As an educator, I enjoy spending time with our students and we encourage them to share their experiences and knowledge”, concludes Professor Sung. “CUHK students inspire us to continue nurturing and developing tomorrow’s leaders”.

Prof Sung with CUHK students