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Leiden University Delegation Visits Nagasaki University

Delegates from Leiden University with staff and students of Nagasaki University
Delegates from Leiden University with staff and students of Nagasaki University

 

Party of Leiden University listens to the explanation by Mr. Shimoda of the library’s collection of historical photographs
Party of Leiden University listens to the explanation by Mr. Shimoda of the library’s collection of historical photographs

On November 23, 2017, Prof. Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus and President of the Executive Board of Leiden University and his associates paid a visit to Nagasaki University. They were welcomed by Prof. Isamu Shimokawa, Trustee of Research and International Affairs, and Prof. Akihide Tada, Vice President of International Exchange.

The academic exchanges between Leiden University and Nagasaki University began with mutual visits by researchers in the field of medicine that continue until the present. After both universities signed an academic agreement in 1998, the relationship between the two universities deepened further and was expanded to exchanges in the area of humanities and social sciences. Nagasaki University’s School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences (SGHSS), which was established in 2014, annually sends students from its Dutch Studies Program to Leiden University. In addition, more than 150 students from Leiden University have studied at Nagasaki University so far.

Prof. Stolker was joined by eight staff-members of Leiden University, Prof. Ivo Smits, Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Bart Barendregt, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ms. Anette van Sandwijk, Head of the Office for International Education, Faculty of Law, Mr. Jeroen ‘t Hart, Director of Student and Educational Affairs, Ms. Marieke te Booij, Head of the International Relations Department, Ms. Marie van Hout, Internationalization Policy Officer, Mr. Sean van der Steen, Editor of Strategic Communication and Marketing, and Ms. Ans Kluit, Personal Assistant to the Rector.

The delegation from Leiden first participated in a round-table conference to exchange opinions concerning the future perspectives of student exchange, that next to Trustee Shimokawa and Vice President Tada, was also attended by Prof. Norihiro Nakamura, Dean of SGHSS, Prof. Harmen Beukers, SGHSS, Prof. Noboru Yamashita, Center for Language Studies, Mr. Takeshi Tokutome, Director and Ms. Miki Masuda, Subsection Chief of the Administration Office of the Liaison Center for International Education.

Then the party visited the university library to meet students of the Dutch Studies Course, an exchange students from Leiden, as well as, Prof. Naoki Kimura, Prof. Fumihiko Azuma, and Prof. Soichiro Harada from the SGHSS to discuss their studies. Rector Stolker donated a book titled, “Magna Commoditas-Leiden University’s ‘Great Asset’: 425 Years Library Collections and Services” which contains a list of significant works collected by Leiden University’s Library to Nagasaki University.

After this meet-and-greet, Mr. Kenichi Shimoda, Subsection Chief of the Academic Information Management Division gave a tour of the collection of historical photographs of sceneries of interactions between the Netherlands and Japan.

Rector Stolker and Trustee Shimokawa, also attended the Sister City Agreement Ceremony between Leiden city and Nagasaki city and the Deshima Omotemon Bridge Completion Ceremony which took place the following day, November 24th.

In their speeches at the ceremony, both Mr. Henri Lenferink, Mayor of Leiden city and Mr. Tomihisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki city, mentioned the relationship between Leiden University and Nagasaki University in hopes that the ties between both universities will become even stronger in the coming years.

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