Okayama University / 2025-06-09 /eng/news/index_id14261.html ISHIMOTO Ryuichiro (3nd year, School of Education), a member of Okayama University’s Track and Field Club, has been officially selected to represent Japan in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the 25th Summer Deaflympics, to be held in Tokyo in November 2025. Mr. Ishimoto gained nationwide attention by setting a new meet record of 56.45 seconds at the 21st Japan Deaf Athletics Championships held in November 2024. He continued to show exceptional form at the national championships held on May 5–6 in Saitama Prefecture, winning his second consecutive title with a strong performance of 56.69 seconds—solidifying his place as a top contender for the national team. Upon receiving news of his selection, Mr. Ishimoto expressed his heartfelt gratitude: ""First and foremost, I am filled with appreciation for my parents, who have supported me throughout my life. I want to repay them by achieving great results. I also carry deep respect for the senior athletes who paved the way in times when the Deaflympics and hearing loss awareness were not as recognized as they are today. It is a tremendous honor to compete on the same stage as international athletes. With six months to go, I will dedicate myself fully to daily training and strive for even better results."" The Deaflympics is a prestigious international multi-sport event held every four years for athletes with hearing impairments. The 2025 Games in Tokyo mark the first time the event will be hosted in Japan, drawing significant public interest. Mr. Ishimoto’s journey continues to inspire, and we eagerly anticipate seeing Okayama University’s Track and Field Club shine on the world stage. Let us all come together to support him as he prepares for this historic opportunity! [Reference] Tokyo Deaflympics Dates: November 15–26, 2025 We are also featuring Mr. Ishimoto’s accomplishments in the topic linked below! The goal is a Gold Medal at the Deaflympics! Ishimoto of the Track and Field Club Wins the Deaf Japan Championships ――――― ""Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors."" 2025-05-20 /eng/news/index_id14231.html From April 11 to May 1, seven students from Kasetsart University (Thailand), one of our partner universities, visited Okayama University and participated in the Spring Short Term Program for Kasetsart University. This program, conducted by the Okayama University Institute of Global Human Resource Development at the request of Kasetsart University, is an international co-learning program mainly composed of intensive lectures taught by faculty members from the Institute for Promotion of Education and Campus Life, English Teaching Division (Global Human Resource). At the opening ceremony held on April 14, Vice President SUZUKI Takayoshi, in charge of International Affairs and Alumni, delivered a greeting, saying, ""Although it is a short period, I hope you enjoy various experiences in Okayama and make use of them in your future."" Deputy Dean Dr. TASSANEE Juntiya, Faculty of Education and Development Sciences, and the accompanying faculty member from Kasetsart University, also expressed gratitude for the implementation of this special program, reaffirming the strong cooperation and partnership between the two universities. The participating students engaged in various learning activities aimed at broadening their international perspectives, deepening their understanding through exposure to different cultures, and developing the skills needed to succeed in a global society. During the program period, in addition to the seven students from Kasetsart University, Japanese students and international students from Okayama University also participated. They attended intensive lectures based on two themes: ""Learning Japanese Language and Culture through International Co-learning Activities"" and ""Studying Social Issues through International Co-learning Activities."" Through active discussions, the students enhanced their understanding of language and social issues. Besides lectures, the students experienced zazen meditation at Sōgenji Temple and participated in a local festival, providing opportunities to deepen their understanding of the local community and culture through hands-on activities. This initiative was implemented as part of the ""MULTICULTURAL CAMPUS PROJECT TOWARD SOCIAL IMPACT"", in which Okayama University was selected to participate. It aligns with the Okayama University’s future vision for internationalization— “Toward 2035”—aiming to realize a university where Japanese and international students can learn collaboratively. Institute of Global Human Resource Development will continue to provide diverse international co-learning opportunities to support students" global learning experiences. ――――― ""Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors."" 2025-05-02 /eng/news/index_id14226.html On April 6-10, six Okayama University students participated in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York City. They teamed up with students from a university in Germany to represent the Republic of Latvia. The final ceremony was in the UN Headquarters. Participants also interviewed an officer from Latvia"s UN mission to prepare. The students successfully debated international policies, gave speeches, and wrote resolutions with other delegates from 145 universities from 18 countries. NMUN is the world"s largest, most diverse, most prestigious, and oldest university Model UN. Okayama University delegates were in the Global Jinzai program, including: - Nayuko Iden (4th-year, Discovery Program for Global Learners) - Yuto Ochi (3rd-year, School of Engineering) - Mai Zensho (3rd-year, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) - Nanami Matsuura (2nd-year, Faculty of Law) - Rihito Ichimoto (2nd-year, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) - Cocona Kiyomiya (2nd-year, School of Agriculture) The students are all active in Okayama University’s unofficial MUN club. The students had also taken Global Jinzai’s MUN course (called International Diplomacy from 2025) from Caleb Prichard and/or Hiroshi Moritani (both associate professors in General Education and Global Studies Field). At NMUN New York, they were led by Professor Prichard. 2025-05-01 /eng/news/index_id14204.html The TEDx Okayama University Executive Committee, formed by volunteer students from the Discovery Program for Global Learners (GDP), organized the first-ever TED Talks event in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions—""TEDx Okayama University""—on April 20 at Okayama University. TED Talks is a globally renowned platform that aims to spread ideas of value to the world through presentations. The event welcomed a limited audience of 100 attendees, who listened intently to the talks. The event featured seven speakers with ties to Okayama, including Associate Professor JOHN RUCYNSKI (Okayama University, Institute for Promotion of Education and Campus Life, English Teaching Division), Professor TERASAWA Takafumi (Okayama University, Faculty of Education), and Associate Professor TAKAHASHI Ken (Okayama University, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences), as well as Mr. MATSUDA Toshiyuki (Representative Director and President of Ryobi Holdings Co., Ltd.), Mr. FUKUTAKE Hideaki (Chairman of the Board, Benesse Holdings / Chairman, Fukutake Foundation), Ms. TAGUCHI Ai (Representative Director, MAAHA Inc.) and Mr. KUBO Shunki (Representative Director and President of ABABA). In addition to these invited speakers, two student presenters who passed a preliminary selection round also took the stage: WATANABE Yume (2nd year, Master’s Course in the Graduate School of Education, Okayama University) and UMAKOSHI Mika (4th year, Faculty of Literature, Notre Dame Seishin University). Experts and leaders from various fields shared their insights and experiences, inspiring attendees and offering new perspectives on life. During the lunch break, a side event allowed participants to interact directly with the speakers, fostering dynamic networking among attendees. Outside the main venue, sponsor booths and food trucks provided useful information, services, and delicious meals, contributing to the event’s vibrant atmosphere. GDP will continue to support students in taking initiative and engaging in international activities. ――――― ""Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors."" 2025-04-28 /eng/news/index_id14202.html From Tuesday, March 4 to Wednesday, March 5, the Institute for Planetary Materials held the International Symposium 2025　MISASA VIII ‘’Future Planetary Exploration: Understanding of Planetary Surface Environments and Habitability‘’ at the Hotel ‘Blanc Art’ in Misasa, Tottori Prefecture jointly with J-PEAKS as an institute that plays an active role in the Advanced Institute for Advanced Studies system. In this symposium, researchers from various fields related to planetary science shared their latest findings and exchanged insights, with the common goal of understanding extraterrestrial environments such as the Moon and the surface of Mars, and exploring the possibility of future long-term stays in such environments. 63 participants attended this symposium, including 16 postgraduate students from Japan and abroad. They engaged in lively discussions inspired by various cutting-edge research results obtained from the latest lunar and planetary exploration as well as laboratory experiments. These exchanges fostered fresh ideas on advancing ‘planetary surface environmental science’, —a core research focus of the Institute—and highlighted its growing significance in the context of increasingly active international planetary exploration efforts. The symposium banquet (held on the first evening) began with a toast by Prof. Yasutomo Nasu, President of Okayama University. Ms. Miki Kimoto, Director of the Central Tottori Prefecture General Office, and Dr Hiroyuki Matsuura, Mayor of Misasa Town, also attended as guests of honor. The evening featured vibrant conversation and active networking among participants, following a full day of engaging academic sessions. 2025-04-24 /eng/news/index_id14198.html Okayama University Homecoming Day 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 1st. This year, the event will be held on the same day as the university festival. As we are the university open to the community, not only alumni and former faculty and staff of the University, but also the general public is welcome to attend! We look forward to your visit. *Details will be updated on the website soon. [Contact Information] Institutional Planning Department Okayama University 〒700-8530 1-1-1, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi TEL: 086-251-8415 FAX: 086-251-7294 Email: ou-hcd ◎ adm.okayama-u.ac.jp * Please replace ◎ with @. 2025-04-23 /eng/news/index_id14194.html Nguyen Kha Manh (3rd-year student) and Le Mai Thanh (4th-year student) of the Discovery Program for Global Learners (GDP) at Okayama University were selected to participate in the 23rd Macroeconomist Training Program hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The three-day program was held in Tokyo from March 26-28, 2025. The workshop was structured to simulate real-world IMF country monitoring practices, where about 20 participants were able to deepen their understanding of macroeconomic analysis by applying the IMF-supported adjustment program framework to assess countries’ economic stability, future baseline scenarios, potential vulnerabilities, and possible structural policy reforms. By breaking down a country"s economy into four core sectors—real, external, fiscal, and financial—the participants explored the overall health of an economy, the interlinkages among these sectors, and how policy decisions in one sector can significantly influence outcomes in another through case studies of Laos and Malaysia. The insightful discussion covering a range of policy issues, including the complex trade-offs faced in the IMF-supported programs in Sri Lanka, followed. On the final day, each group of participants analyzed Thailand’s or Vietnam’s economic conditions, prospects, and risks and made policy recommendations. Nguyen Kha and Le Mai, both from Vietnam, gained valuable insights into how macroeconomic surveillance and policy formation are conducted at an institutional level. At first, they were a bit nervous as the workshop was conducted in Japanese, but gradually, they became more excited about the learning experience with a glimpse into the world of international financial institutions and the people behind the IMF. They are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to applying what they have learned to their future studies. 2025-04-22 /eng/news/index_id14197.html On April 14, Vice Chancellor Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay and Ms. Summauli Pyne, Director of International Affairs, International Relations & Outreach at Sister Nivedita University, India, visited Okayama University and paid a courtesy visit to President NASU Yasutomo. From Okayama University, in addition to President NASU, Professor SENO Masaharu (Special Appointment) (Former Dean of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems ) and related faculty and staff attended the meeting. Okayama University and Sister Nivedita University signed an inter-departmental agreement between the Graduate School of Health Sciences and other departments in March 2019, which was upgraded to a university-level agreement in February 2025. This visit aimed to discuss exchanges following the conclusion of the university-level agreement. Link to announcement During the courtesy visit, they exchanged views on future prospects for collaboration. Vice Chancellor Chattopadhyay explained that Sister Nivedita University is strongly committed to women empowerment. In response, President Nasu introduced Okayama University"s strong recognition of the importance of this issue and its proactive support for female researchers and others. He also expressed the intention to further develop the strong cooperative relationship that has been built between the two universities. During their stay, the delegation met with Vice President SUZUKI Takayoshi (in charge of International Affairs and Alumni ) and visited related graduate schools, where they also met with deans and faculty members. They exchanged opinions on specific future collaboration plans. This visit is expected to serve as a catalyst to further strengthen the partnership between Okayama University and Sister Nivedita University. ――――― ""Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors."" 2025-04-21 /eng/news/index_id14193.html In 2024, the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) established a new action group, ""AI and Higher Education,"" with Japan"s universities" call for participation. Okayama University has nominated Prof. YOKOI Atsufumi (Vice President (Global Engagement) and UNESCO Chairholder), along with a Specially Appointed Assoc. Prof. KODA Masahide (Director of Co-learning Community Healthcare Re-innovation Office, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences) to participate as committee members. The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI)* was launched in 2012 as an open partnership among several UN agencies and the higher education community to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable development. Okayama University is one of the few Japanese universities that have been part of the HESI community since its inception. The background to establishing the action group includes the accelerated development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI applications, which significantly impact the higher education sector. This situation necessitates reevaluating education, learning, research, engagement, and management. Furthermore, global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, biodiversity loss, widening inequality, and political unrest have significantly stalled progress toward the SDGs. There is a need for fundamental transformation and groundbreaking innovation to get sustainable development back on track. The ""AI and Higher Education"" action group serves as an interdisciplinary collaborative platform to build a knowledge base on current trends, opportunities, and risks of AI in higher education from a sustainable development perspective. Five subcommittees* have been established in the action group. From February 2025, Vice President Prof. Yokoi will be a committee member of the ""AI in Institutional Management and Administration"" subcommittee. He will leverage his experience as chair of the Sustainable Campus Subcommittee of the UNU SDG-Universities Platform and as a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology"s Office of Sustainability to propose policies on how AI can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education management from a sustainable development perspective. Additionally, Specially Appointed Assoc. Prof. Koda will explore mission-oriented research and development as a committee member of the ""AI in Research and Development"" subcommittee, focusing on innovative AI solutions to global challenges such as climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity loss, sustainable cities, and social inequality. In the future, our university will actively engage with AI as a higher education institution to accelerate research, education, and social contribution efforts toward co-creating a desired future for the region and the planet through multistakeholder and intergenerational solidarity. *Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) HESI emphasizes the critical role of higher education in achieving sustainable development by holding a global forum as a special event at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) each year. HESI is a partnership between multiple UN agencies and the higher education community, currently chaired by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the United Nations University, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), and the Sulitest Association. Other UN partners include UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Global Compact"s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, UN-Habitat, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the United Nations Office for Partnerships, and the United Nations Academic Impact. *Action Group: Five Subcommittees on ""AI and Higher Education"" ・AI in Teaching and Learning ・AI in Research and Development ・AI in Institutional Management and Administration ・AI in Community and Industry Engagement ・AI in Ethics, Safety, and Inclusivity ●UNU Website: HLPF Special Event Highlights Critical Role of Higher Education in Sustainable Development ●UN DESA Website: Futures of Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence Concept Note 2025-04-21 /eng/news/index_id14192.html From January 9th to 11th, an international conference was held at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) in Ahmedabad, India. The Centre was celebrating its 40th anniversary with the cooperation of UN agencies (such as UNEP, UNESCO, and UNICEF) and the Indian government. Invited by Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director of CEE, Vice President (Global Engagement), and UNESCO Chairholder Prof. YOKOI Atsufumi delivered a speech during the opening session. Additionally, he participated as a speaker in a special session titled ""Bringing a Culture of Sustainability in the Higher Education Institutions,"" emphasizing the significance of advancing CEE"s legacy for the coexistence of humanity and the planet through intergenerational solidarity. The conference also featured Dr. Ashok Khosla, a key figure in promoting sustainability concepts in the context of environmental education and sustainable development in India, and former International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) President and co-chair of the International Resource Panel. Dr. Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chairholder from York University and a global authority on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), also participated, exchanging views on CEE"s history, role, and sustainability in higher education institutions. The Sarabhai family, founders of CEE, is a distinguished family known for supporting Gandhi, the father of Indian independence. The family pioneered India"s space development, and following India"s independence, it advanced development nationwide through education, science and technology, and social contribution efforts. Vice President Prof. Yokoi and Mr. Sarabhai, council members of the Earth Charter International Secretariat at the University for Peace, are working together on ESD. Okayama University will continue accelerating research, education, and social contribution initiatives through multistakeholder and intergenerational solidarity, aiming to co-create a desired future for the region and the planet. 2025-04-21