President Ueno and delegation from Meiji University in Japan visit UH Hilo, discuss ongoing student and faculty exchange
Meiji University is one of UH Hilo’s important exchange partners for both student and faculty exchange programs.
By Susan Enright.
A delegation from Meiji University in Japan visited the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Feb 19-20. Meiji University is one of UH Hilo’s important exchange partners for both student and faculty exchange programs.
Visiting from Meiji University was President Masao Ueno, Vice President for International Affairs Kyoko Koma, General Manager of the Division of International Collaboration Hiroshi Iizuka, and Manager of the Office of International Collaboration Yoshiaki Ozawa.
Dean of UH Hilo’s College of Natural and Health Sciences Simon Kattenhorn notes that Meiji University is a prestigious and respected institution in Japan.
“Providing a pathway for Meiji students to complete study abroad exchanges at UH Hilo, and for our students to do the same at Meiji University, will create transformative opportunities for students at both institutions,” he says. “In the natural sciences specifically, our common programs in chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and mechanical engineering permit a wide array of options for exchange students in these disciplines. I am excited to see the development of this partnership with Meiji University.”
UH Hilo Director of Global Education Carolina Lam notes that one of the biggest values of the partnership for students is “that they are able to attend Meiji University up to an academic year while paying UH Hilo tuition.”
After a traditional welcome to campus by UH Hilo Director of Native Hawaiian Engagement Pele Harman, the delegation from Meiji University met with their current student studying at UH Hilo on exchange, followed by a meeting with UH Hilo Professor of English Mark Panek, who will be the first UH Hilo professor to visit Meiji as a visiting professor/researcher, and a group of UH Hilo students interested in attending Meiji University in the future on exchange.
“It impressive enough to have the top leaders from one of the world’s most prestigious universities fly all the way over to Hilo, but to see that their focus was locked in on our students, our faculty, and our local residents, this was a true honor,” says Panek. “Even more than before meeting them all, I’m really looking forward to my research residency at Meiji next semester.”
At the student meeting, President Ueno gave each student mascot pin from Meiji University of a little owl. “It was very thoughtful and considerate of President Ueno to share Meijiro, the official mascot of Meiji University, with the students in attendance to remember their visit,” says Lam.
The following day, President Ueno and the Meiji University group met with UH Hilo administrators and faculty to discuss student and faculty exchange.
In addition to Dean Kattenhorn from the College of Natural and Health Sciences, also attending was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Michael Bitter as well as Chair of the Division of Humanities Rodney Jubilado and Associate Professor of Linguistics Yumiko Ohara.
Both sides learned about the academic programs and about possible opportunities for both student and faculty exchange.
“Our cordial and productive meeting with President Ueno and Vice President Koma of Meiji University identified a number of academic programs and opportunities available to students at both universities while they are on exchange,” says Dean Bitter. “The growing academic and cultural connections between our two universities will benefit all of our students, whether they study in Hilo or in Tokyo.”
The visit concluded with a tour of campus led by International Admissions Counselor Yuki Izumi and student Erika Murata who works at UH Hilo’s Center for Global Education and Exchange.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories.
