Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), UNIVERSITY of TSUKUBA

2021

March 24th, 2021: A special day Japan-Jordan Academic Diplomacy, Exchange,and Future Prospects

March 24th, 2021, a day before the graduation of the 5th TIAS batch, Her Excellency Ms.
Lina Annab, the Ambassador of Jordan to Japan, visited the University of Tsukuba (UT)
and the Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS) program (a Tokyo 2020
Legacy project) and Tsukuba Science City, the science city of Ibaraki Prefecture. The visit
was a result of exchanges between the Ambassador and Hada Atiyeh (TIAS 5th Student),
with the intention to bridge and strengthen academic partnership and collaboration
opportunities between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the University of Tsukuba.
During this day-long visit, her excellency Ms. Lina Annab was welcomed by Prof. Randeep
Rakwal (TIAS) and Hada Atiyeh at 11:30AM and took her and Talal Masarweh (3rd Secretaryand Consul) on a facility tour around the campus from Sport and Physical Education
Facilities, TIAS and the Global Sport (GSI) Innovation Building at the premises of theUniversity up until Jigoro Kano’s statue as a means to explain the history and theestablishment of the university by Jigorō Kanō who was the first Asian IOC member
contributing to the promotion of Olympic movement. By 13:30PM, the Ambassador wasescorted to the UT HQ where the Jordan’s flag was raised for the first time in historyalongside Japan’s and University of Tsukuba flags as a symbol of appreciation andcollaboration prospects between Japan and Jordan. Later she was briefly introduced to thePresident of University of Tsukuba, Prof. Kyosuke Nagata. The Ambassador was thenwelcomed by Prof. Caroline F. Benton, Vice President of University of Tsukuba, at the HQ
where they exchanged mutual interests in providing the means and infrastructure by theUniversity for the development of the practical skills of Jordanian youth and develop aconnection with Jordanian universities. The Ambassador expressed her vision to strengthen
bilateral partnership and exchange opportunities for the Jordanian students and fresh
graduates to have the opportunity to experience from a wide range of departments anddiscipline offered at the University of Tsukuba campus. Additionally, stating her desire toenable a long-term commitment to build a sustainable method that would benefit all parties
involved including the faculty staff and students from both countries.

(at the GSI building – TIAS and TIAS 2.0 Degree programs, with FACULTY and STUDENTS)

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The day was followed with a meeting at the GSI building where Prof. Hisashi SANADA (Chairof TIAS, and Director of CORE – Center for Olympic Research and Education) welcomed
and introduced the Ambassador to the TIAS Faculty. The meeting was primarily attended byProf. Randeep RAKWAL, Prof. Koyo FUKUSAWA, the Chair of the TIAS 2.0(http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/tias2/), and the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences,Prof. Takeshi NISHIYASU. Prof. FUKUSAWA was tremendously overjoyed by the presence of
the Ambassador of Jordan because there have been many collaborative projects between
his home town (AKITA prefecture-Noshiro City) the Host Town City that cheers for Jordan.
The professors provided a brief history of their experience and their hand in initiating theOlympic legacy program. Prof. SANADA provided a summary of TIAS history and futurevision.
The Ambassador also met and interacted with the students of the 5th Batch of TIAS
(http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/) and also the new TIAS 2.0 Degree Program students(http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/tias2/, continuing the legacy of TIAS); as well as meeting Prof.
Alexis LYRAS (TIAS; and O4H founder, https://o4ha.org/) and Prof. Takahiro SATO (Chair ofthe IDS program; https://tkjids.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/). Prof. RAKWAL provided a booklet
with previous programs/projects and collaborations with various countries.
The day-long visit ended at MIZUHONOMURA ICHIBA, a farmer’s market, a well-known
organization for the high standards in quality assurance and sustainable agriculturaldevelopment; an agency and institution in the community that reflects the values andtradition of the Japanese heritage and culture. The day long visit provided a unique
opportunity for Her Excellency Ms. Lina Annab, the Ambassador of Jordan to Japan, to not
only see first-hand the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences (TAIIKU,
https://www.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/), but also meet and interact with various Professors
and students, and enjoy the green campus of Tsukuba and some key aspects of the Tsukuba
city.
Thank you,2021.07.15
Hada Atiyeh, M.Sc.., M.A.
Postgraduate of 2021
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences Master's Program in
Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences
Email: hadaatiyeh@hotmail.com
Mobile- (+971)050-2234572

Randeep RAKWAL, Ph.D.
Professor,
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS 2.0),
Global Sport Innovation Bldg., Room 403, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA,
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan
Email - plantproteomics@gmail.com - rakwal.randeep.fu@u.tsukuba.ac.jp (office)
Mobile – (+81) 090-1853-7875 / Office phone – (+81)029-853-2681
Website: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/tias2/, http://www.trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/0000003045

LINKS:
1. https://jordanembassyjapan.com/
2. https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/
3. http://www.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/
4. http://core.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/
5. https://www.sport4tomorrow.jpnsport.go.jp/

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