University in new agreement with Japanese University
The University of Leicester has forged a new partnership with the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT), paving the way for the two institutions to work more closely together.
Following a visit from President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle to the technology-focussed institution, opportunities have now opened up for staff and student exchanges as well as academic collaboration.
Professor Boyle said: “Like Leicester, KIT is committed to international excellence and making an impact on the global stage. UK education is high quality, it is world renowned and it is an export. Following the Brexit decision, it is more important than ever to develop stronger links across the world and our ambition is to continue to forge more top level partnerships and collaborations.”
The MOU follows visits by Phil Horspool, Director of the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) to Kanazawa as well as by Professor Boyle. During a return visit by a delegation from KIT to Leicester, led by President Satoshi Osawa, the team had meetings with the ELTU, the School of Business, Engineering, Chemistry, Geography and seeing teams in Astrobiology and Space Instrumentation as well as visiting university accommodation.
KIT’s President has an aim of offering 50% of KIT modules by 2020 through the medium of English. Conversations centred on how the University of Leicester’s ELTU could help KIT deliver this commitment as well as involving their students in Leicester’s summer school English programmes and collaborating with student and staff exchange with academic departments. It is also hoped that Leicester will be able to send some students to Kanazawa as part of a student exchange programme.
The two institutions have been in contact for a number of years through Dr Sigmund Wagner-Tsukamoto, from the School of Business, and Professor Okabe from KIT.