Okayama University Opened Jakarta Office for Global Network Project to Promote Study in Japan (ASEAN Regional Office), Jakarta in Indonesia
On September 24, Okayama University held an opening ceremony for its new office for the Global Network Project to Promote Study in Japan (ASEAN Regional Office), located in Darma Persada University (UNSADA) in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the ceremony, the office opening was celebrated by a total of 60 representatives from 16 Indonesian governmental and educational institutions, including Minister NAGAI Katsuro from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia; Director rer. nat. Nandi, S.Pd., M.T., M.Sc., Directorate of International Affairs from Indonesia University of Education; and Rector Agus Salim Dasuki, M. Eng. from Darma Persada University (UNSADA). Additionally, Vice President for International Affairs and Alumni SUZUKI Takayoshi, Professor IGUCHI Toshihiro from Faculty of Health Sciences, and other representatives attended to represent Okayama University. From SixERS (The Consortium of Six National University in Japan composed of Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University, and Kumamoto University), which is the partner institution of this project, Executive Vice President for Education and International Affairs OZAWA Hiroaki, Director for International Affairs TATEISHI Koji, and Senior Specialist TSUKADA Kaori, International Affairs Division from Chiba University; Associate Professor HIROKAWA Satoshi from Institute of Education and Student Affairs, Niigata University; Advisor to the President ABE Soichiro from Kanazawa University; and Executive Director KAKUTA Kenji, International Affairs Department from Kumamoto University were in attendance. In his congratulatory address, Minister Nagai from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia expressed his high expectations that the office's initiatives will lead to the development of human resources to serve as a bridge between Japan and Indonesia. Referring to the importance of the education sector in Indonesia, Rector Agus Salim Dasuki, M.Eng. of UNSADA expressed his welcome, “I hope that today's opening ceremony, where all concerned parties come together, will be a milestone in further strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and Japan. I trust that working together to achieve great results can have a positive effect on friendly relations between our two countries, not only in the education sector, but also in many other aspects.” After the ceremony, a commemorative workshop on the recent trend of Study in Japan was held by Okayama University. Then the Study in Japan seminar was held jointly by the SixERS, participated by approximately 400 high school and university students from the vicinity of UNSADA who wish to study in Japan. At the seminar, the SiERS representatives took the stage to introduce their respective universities and strongly appeal the attractiveness of Study in Japan. From Okayama University, Professor Iguchi gave an overview of the university and life in Okayama during Study in Japan, while Study in Japan Coordinator YAJIMA Kaori explained the project and introduced Japanese culture. The seminar provided a great opportunity for participants’ better understanding of Japan and Japanese universities. From here on, in cooperation with universities, other educational institutions, and alumni associations, the Jakarta office will extend full-scale support to Indonesian students who wish to study in Japan. ● What is the Global Network Project to Promote Study in Japan (ASEAN Regional Office)? Okayama University was appointed to implement the “Global Network Project to Promote Study in Japan (ASEAN Regional Office)” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) - Japan in 2024. We aim to increase the number of international students from ASEAN by 2.7 times (103,861 students) in 5 years. In the previous phases, Okayama University was commissioned by MEXT - Japan to implement the “Coordinator for Study in Japan (Myanmar)” in 2014, aiming to double the number of students from Myanmar over a 5-year period. As a result, we were able to triple the number of students in 4 years, achieving our goal one year ahead. In 2018, the name of the project was changed to the “Study in Japan Global Network Project in ASEAN,” which was recommissioned in 2019 for another 5 years, and the target region was expanded to 10 ASEAN countries. Currently, we have five overseas offices: Yangon, Mandalay, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. In 2024, we will establish new ones in Indonesia and Malaysia, the most priority countries of the current phase, and will work from these bases to recruit excellent international students from ASEAN for Study in Japan.