Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2017

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Newsletter

Conferral Ceremony of Doctor Honoris Causa
for Dr. Hans-Gert P öttering at Kobe University
INDEX- News- Research at Kobe

- Research at Kobe University (2nd half of 2017)- In-house seminars and workshop at KUBEC- Past Events in 2017

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2017 NEWSC

onferral Ceremonies ofDoctor Honoris Causa wereheld

On October 16 at Kobe University, His
Excellency Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering
received a Doctor Honoris Causa fromKobe University. Dr. Pöttering wasawarded the degree in recognition of hisachievements during his time as Presidentof the European Parliament, as well as his
considerable contribution to education
and research at Kobe University throughthe activities of theKonrad-AdenauerStiftung.
Following the degree
conferral, Dr.
Pöttering gave amemorial speech
titled “Challenges for
the European Union
in a World ofInsecurity”. The speech dealt with issues
the European Union is facing in thisperiod of global instability such asimmigration and refugee crises, and heemphasized that in these times, it is evenmore vital that the EU upholds its
founding vision and principles.
Approximately 100 students, staff andfaculty from Kobe University attended
the speech, and the following Q&A
session saw active discussions between
Dr. Pöttering and members of theaudience.

http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_10_20_01.html

Student Ambassador’s interview:
http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_11_15_01.html

On November 24 at the Dancing House inPrague, the Czech Republic, Prof. JiříDrahoš received a Doctor Honoris Causa
from Kobe University. Prof. Drahoš wasawarded the degree in recognition of hiscontributions to international research
partnership between Japan and the Czech
Republic, as well as his substantial
support for our relations with Europe as amember of the Kobe University Advisory
Board.

At the ceremony, President Hiroshi
Takeda introduced Kobe University andits activities with Europe to the guests.
He emphasized that Kobe University
recognizes the importance ofstrengthening its activities in Central andEastern Europe, where Japanese culture
and technologies receive high levels ofinterest among researchers and students.
Following the degree conferral, Prof.
Drahoš made a speech to express hisgratitude for the honorary doctorate andintroduced to the guests his experiencesof research collaboration with Japan.
In 2015, Kobe University organised theOverseas Advisory Board to utilise thevaluable connections which it has
nurtured through its international
activities. We invited esteemed experts
who contributed to Kobe University’s
academic activities from academic andgovernmental sectors, including Prof
Drahoš. From 2017, we also welcomed Dr.
Hans-Gert Pöttering as a new member.
http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_12_05_02.html

The 8th Kobe University
Brussels European Centre
Symposium was heldThe 8th Kobe University Brussels
European Centre Symposium “EUJapan Initiative for Excellence- Strategic
Research Partnership in Medicine,
Biotechnology and Social Sciences-” washeld in Brussels, Belgium on November
21, 2017. The symposium was held incollaboration with Vrije
Universiteit Brussel (VUB), wherethe Brussels European Office islocated. Over 90 people attended
the symposium, including Japaneseand European officials, researchers,
students and business
representatives.

The four breakout sessions wereorganised under the themes of 1)
Higher Education, 2) Biotechnology,3) Migration and Community
Building, and 4) Healthy and Active
Ageing. Japanese and European
researchers presented the latest
results of cutting-edge research anddiscussed future opportunities forcollaboration. This year, presentersfrom the Mission of Japan to theEuropean Union and European
Commission joined the sessions toshare views of policy makers.
http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_12_05_01.
html
After the symposium, on November
22, Kobe University held an
Advisory Board meeting at the Kobe
University Brussels European
Centre in Belgium. The meeting wasattended by board members His
Excellency Mr. Herman Van
Rompuy (former President of theEuropean Council) and Professor
Roger Goodman (Warden of St
Antony’s College, University ofOxford).

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2017

The board members expressed theiropinions on topics such as theacquisition of EU funding, the numberof international students at Kobe
University, and the Brussels EuropeanCentre’s activities in the university
offices network of Brussels.
http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_12_04_01.html

Visegradproject
haslaunched

Kobe University was recently selected
for the Visegrad University Studies
Grants, and from October 2017 we areoffering a course titled “The Place of V4
Countries in Europe and Japan” to study
the importance of Central and Eastern
Europe within the EU, connections
between Japan and the region, and how
this region is regarded in Japan. The
course is taught with cooperation fromscholars in our V4 partner universities:
Jagiellonian University (Poland), Eötvös
Loránd University (Hungary),
Comenius University (Slovakia), andCharles University (Czech Republic).
The classes are open to exchange
students from our partner institutions,and it forms part of the Educational
Program on Current Japan, a programon Japanese culture, society, science andtechnology taught in English andJapanese.
On October 19, Kobe University heldthe Visegrad Project Kick-Off
Symposium "The Place of V4 countries
in Europe and Japan" at Jagiellonian
University (Kraków, Poland).
Alongside the Visegrad Project Kick-Off
Symposium, a signing ceremony washeld for a Memorandum ofUnderstanding regarding the Joint
Lecture Series with Jagiellonian

University, where Kobe University
Liasion Office in Kraków is located.

At this meeting, chaired by Mr.
Patrick Vittet-Philippe (Advisor toKobe University is aiming to expand
international exchange by sending ourfaculty members overseas to holdlecture series at partner institutions.

KUBEC), network participants
reported on developments in thelatest European Commission
education and research funding
schemes including Horizon 2020
FP9 and Erasmus+, andparticipating institutions also
looked into expanding theirexchanges.
http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_10_04_01.html

Also from October 16-20, five faculty
members and three PhD students from
Kobe University participated in an
intensive lecture series onContemporary Japanese Culture andSociety at Jagiellonian University.

B

ilateral Kobe-KielWorkshop held

http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_11_06_01.html

Network meeting held atBrussels EuropeanCentre

On September 21, Kobe University helda network meeting for the UniLiONCore Group at the Kobe University
Brussels European Centre (KUBEC).
In February 2017Kobe University
joined the Brussels
University Liaison
offices Network(UniLiON) andthrough thisnetwork we havebeen exchanging information about
European Commission research andeducation funding schemes and finding
new partner institutions.
Professor YOSHIDA Ken-ichi(Executive Director of KUBEC) gave apresentation about Kobe University’s
research and education initiatives andour activities in Europe.

On September 18, Kobe
University held theBilateral Kobe-Kiel Workshop atKiel University in Germany. Kobe
University and Kiel University
concluded an inter-university
academic partnership on May 12,2016, and we are actively involved inresearch exchange in the naturaland social sciences. This workshop
aimed to initiate and expand
international joint research between
our universities. Researchers fromboth institutions presented cuttingedge findings in the two breakout
sessions on nanoscience andinternational relations.

http://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_10_04_0
2.htmlKobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2017

 Research atKobe University(2nd Half of 2017)

Research at Kobe has launched!
A website focused on Kobe University research activities has
opened on March 2017. All you need to know about our research is
now on the website including news, spotlight, researchers, facilities
and collaboration.

- Parasitic plants rely on unusual method to spread their seeds
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/research_at_kobe_en/NEWS/news/2017_11_14_01.html
Biology-A gel that does not break or dry out
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/research_at_kobe_en/NEWS/news/2017_11_08_01.html
Chemistry, Physics, Materials Sciences, Polymer Chemistry- Rapid climate changes across northern hemisphere in the earliest Middle Pleistocenehttp://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/research_at_kobe_en/NEWS/news/2017_09_12_01.htmll
Earth Science, Geography- Japanese children learn to write through rhythm
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/research_at_kobe_en/NEWS/news/2017_06_29_02.html
Anthropology, Education, Social Behavioral Science
If you would like to know more about our research, please contact us at

intl-relations (a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2017

◆ Past Events in 2017
5 Dec.
28 Nov.
18-19 Nov.

The CRIL-Kobe-Louvain Collaborative Workshop on Constraint Programming and SAT
http://www.edu.kobe-u.ac.jp/istc-tamlab/cspsat/workshop2017/
Brussels Student Workshop 2017: 'What are students intersted in? Europe and Japan Similarity and Difference'
International Workshop of Humanities: 'New Perspectives in Japanese Studies Part2'2 Oct.

The 5th Bruegel - Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University conference"Europe and Japan: Monetary policies in the age of uncertainty"
http://bruegel.org/events/europe-and-japan-monetary-policies-in-the-age-of-uncertainty/uncertainty/http://bruegel.org/events/europe-and-japan-monetary-policies-in-the-age-of-uncertainty/

21 Sep..
18 May.

Meeting of the UniLION Core Group (Kobe University host)First Japanese Law Workshop at Kobe University Brussels European Centre(KUBEC)"EUROPEAN VIEWS ON JAPANESE LAW"
hhttp://www.office.kobe-u.ac.jp/ipiep/materials/flyer20170518.pdf

 In-house seminars and workshop at KUBEC
Information on academic seminars and workshops at KUBEC can be found at:
http://www.office.kobe-u.ac.jp/ipiep/kubec/index_en.html
If you are interested in participating in those events, please contact us at

intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp
for further information.

 Social Media
Kobe University is now on Social Media!

KobeU_Global

KobeUniversityGlobalKobe University Let us know what you think about our English website
Feedback is always welcome. Please let us know your opinion by filling in a 3-minute questionnaire about the new
website: Link to questionnaire
Thank you very much for reading this newsletter. We wish you all a joyful Christmas holiday!
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If you prefer not to receive it, please send a message to us at intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp. Thank you.

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Email : intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp
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