No.3 2012.9.11

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No. 3【Aiming to Strengthen JSCE’s Int’l Activities】◆ Why is IAC Set Up
Why have we formed IAC? This question has been discussed by the Board ofDirectors and International Strategy Committee many times; therefore, it should
not be necessary to explain it here again. But, let me clarify the differences
between the International Affairs Section and International Activities Center.
Before discussing the differences, I want you to remember that any civilengineering society is the “society” which is a group of people sharing interestsand information, but which is never an administrative body.

Takuro YAMAMOTO
The 99th JSCE
In other words, the JSCE has little authority to initiate projects, but only functions
President
as administrative support to committees. This is quite normal for the society because it is committee-oriented
society and supported with its membershipfees. Accordingly, the society has to limit its action to, at best, submitting or publishing proposals and advice on
the policy matters which the society solely cannot be deal with, but has to work with governmental offices andagencies.

Since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, several societies have made proposals and advice; however,almost all of them must not have been detailed to implement into practice. Making proposals is certainly
important, but we tend to satisfy that and not to consider drawing detailed plans for the proposals, that is aproblem.
There are numerous proposals and recommendations for strategies for a huge challenge “internationalizationof civil engineering” made in and outside the society, which has had a series on that in its magazine. In themeantime, there has been no “control tower” which takes up that challenge which the industry, academia andgovernment are facing. As a result, we have not acquired a strong leadership and systems to respond theneeds for and to implement internationalization strategies and infrastructure export. In order to strengthen thestrategies for the internationalization of civil engineering, we need to have the “control tower” which can bring
together and lead the industry, academia and government across sector boundaries. Then, the JSCE,
supported by those three sectors, can be the right one and work with them to face that challenge together. And,to fulfill that, JSCE has to strengthen the administrative assistant Int’l Affairs Section to be a section of action,
Int’l Activities Center whose members, coming from within and outside the JSCE, will take initiative and act
towards goals. Being aware of a serious shortage of both human and financial resources, we with the IAC will
make a breakthrough to stimulate the internationalization of the civil engineering. Your kind support andassistance are appreciated.

【International Student Network Group: Goals and Activities 】

There are thousands of civil engineers overseas who have studied in universities,graduate schools, and institutes in Japan, and many of whom are working as
administrators, consultants and engineers back home or in other countries. We
have not built a system or network to re-connect with them so far. Also those whoare studying in Japan has gained limited access to the information of Japanese
civil engineering technologies via JSCE. In order to solve these challenging issues,Int’l Student Network Group is working to improve the conventional communicationand supports to current and former International students in Japan: the Group isplanning to build a network for former international students so that we would
communicate and collaborate with them in technological and educational areasand professional practice.

Kohei Nagai,
Associate Prof.
Int’l Student NetworkGroup Leader

Moreover, for current international students in Japan, the Group holds information exchange opportunities (e.g.
Int’l Summer Symposium) and is planning career support systems for those who are interested in pursing theircareer in Japan. It is also planning the follow-up services for those students will be able to maintain theiraccess to JSCE back home such as sending them the news of JSCE’s activities and events and providing asystem that they can find and link with other int’l students by country and region. Utilizing this system, we will
be able to support the civil engineering industry to expand its activities overseas as well. Furthermore, incooperation with the International Sections, we will be creating a graduate reunion forum in that former
international students will link with each other.
Building and maintaining the network require much time, constant care and attention, but are worthwhilechallenges for us. The network will create beneficial effects on the development of communication andcooperation between Japanese and International students.

【Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Deputy Minister of Construction, Vietnam
Visited JSCE】

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi of Ministry of Construction, Vietnam paid a visit to JSCE with 21 delegation members
in Tuesday evening, July 31, 2021. Mr. Ono the President, Dr. Ohnisi Executive Director, Prof. Morichi ofGRIPS exchanged warm greetings with Mr. Nghi
and had a friendly talk.
Both parties agreed to continue a good relationshipand to enhance the cooperation between JSCE andVFCEA, VASECT, VIBRA and other related societies.
Responding this agreement, JSCE is planning somejoint activities with the above societies and willdevelop its communication in not just technical but
cultural domain to contribute to the bi-lateralrelationship.

A Message from Int’l Section
Mr. Diasuke Saito of the UK Section gave an exciting update. His paper on the design of Awa-Shirasagi
Bridge” was published and a photo of the bridge was out on the cover of the prestigious magazine theStructural Engineers. It is be the fist time that a paper written by a Japanese engineer was published in themagazine’s 90 year- history. These achievements show not only his excellent study and discussion, but also
the high remarks and recognition given for a Japanese civil engineer’s professional skills, abilities andachievement overseas. Mr. Saito will be discussing construction technologies in another issue of the magazine,
and we would like to introduce his discussion in the IAC News.
Like Mr. Saito, there are many Japanese engineers who are making significant success overseas, and wewould like to offer them our heartfelt support, and also to create a supportive environment to assist them tofurther pursue their goals and expand their activities.
The Structural Engineer:
http://www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/volume-90/issues/issue-8;
http://www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/volume-90/issues/issue-8/articles/design-of-awa-shirasagi-ohashi-bridge

What’s Happening
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Aug 28 & 29: The 1st JSCE-VASECT Infrastructure Symposium” in Hanoi
Sept 3~12: 2012JSCE Study Tour Grant program
Sept 3 & 4: ACECC TC 16 on ITS The 1st Meeting@ Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok
Sept 5 & 6: 2012 JSCE Annual Meeting International Program:
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/s_iad/node/49
Sept 5:
The 14th International Summer Symposium@ Nagoya University
Mid Sept:
EIT-JSCE Joint Seminar in Bangkok (Structural Engineering Committee)
Sept 27:
Int’l Construction Management Seminar:
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/management2012
Oct 24~26: 2012 KSCE Annual Conference and Civil Exposition@Chonnam National University,Gwangju, Korea
Oct 26&27: The 56th ECCE General Meeting @ Grand Villa Argentina Hotel in Croatia:
http://www.dubrovniksun.hr/prijave/ecce/
Oct 29&30: ICE-JSCE Joint Int’l Symposium (Committee of Infrastructure Planning andManagement): http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/ip/index.shtm

Updates

http://committees.jsce.or.jp/acecc/6thcecar
Aug 20-22:
6th CECAR in Jakarta, Aug
Concrete Committee Int’l Newsletter No. 29 (April 22, 2012) available on the JSCE website.
http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/concrete/e/newsletter/newsletter29/index.html
The JSCE magazine, mini-series “Can the construction industry become a Japan’ s major exportindustry?” (“Civil Engineering,” Vol. 93, No. 9, 2008)

President’s Mumbling◆ Expectations for the international activities
International Activities Center launched in June 2012. I expect the international activities center to be always
the representative of international activities of the JSCE. International activities center’s activities seem to be
the interchange of JSCE and other country’s academic society. I expect the interchange to be practical andwide range. I hope the interchange cause the Japanese civil engineers’ international activities such asinfrastructure constructions in foreign countries and cooperative research between Japanese and othercountries’ researchers.
On July 31st, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Deputy Minister of Vietnam’s construction ministry and many experts
visited the Japanese ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism’s office and JSCE’s office. At theend of August we will visit Vietnam to attend the 1st symposium between Vietnam’s academic society andJSCE.
I expect to promote an active international interchange of personnel in various sections such as industries,
academics and ministries continuously.

Staff’s Mumbling
Time certainly flies away. I’m feeling that this one month is gone in a blink of an eye. Mr. Nghi’s visit to JSCE,
Mr. Ono, Mr. Yamamoto and Prof. Morichi headed a delegation to Vietnam, 2012 JSCE Annual Meeting, Int’lSummer Symposium and int’l friend societies’ annual meetings…we’re having events one after another in thissummer to autumn. I’m keenly feeling how precious and vital the support of the IAC leaders and members is indealing with these events and appreciate them. Thank them indeed. There was the 1st ICC group meeting acouple of weeks ago, and I talked backward and forward…in a cold sweat. I looked so pathetic, I’m sure. TheG leaders and members very kindly took over my speech. Thanks, thanks, and thank to them. I know I will
make more mistakes, troubles and confusion. My apology first, and my deepest appreciation for your kind
support and patience. (Y)【Comments and Questions】
Please let us know of any comments, ideas and suggestions you havefor improving this news. We look forward to hearing from you.
JSCE IAC: iac-news@jsce.or.jp

【FY2012 IAC Calender】As of August 17, 2012
Groups (G)April

1st Quarter
MayJune2nd Quarter
AugustJuly

September

Common events among groups

October

3rd Quarter
November

DecemberJanuary

4th QuarterFebruary

MarchMemo▽AIJ-JSCE Joint International Workshop on Natural Disaster Mitigation@Nagoya Univ. (Sept 13)▽IAC News No.1

Information Netowrking G
Annual Meeting
Int'l ChapterTaiwan▽ 2012 JSCE Annual Meeting＠Nagoya Univ. (Sept 5-7）
▽Int'l Chapter Meeting @ Nagoya Univ. (Sept 5)▽CICHE-JSCE Meeting in Taipei (June 11-13)▽2012 CICHE Annual Conference in Taichung (Nov 6)▽2012 KSCE Annual Conference@Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea (Oct 24-26)

Korea

VietnamInt'lCommunication & Exchang G▽A visit of Minister of Construction, Vietnam@ JSCE HQ (J ▽【Construction Management Committee】VFCEA-JSCE Joint Seminar in Hanoi (November)▽VASECT-JSCE Joint Seminar in Hanoi (Aug 28-29)▽VIBRA-MOT International Conference in Hanoi (Dec 14)▽【Concrete Committee】VFCEA-JSCE Joing Seminar in Hanoi (Sept 25-26)▽【Committee of Infrastructure Planning and Management】ICE-JSCE Joint Seminar in Japan (The end of Oct)

UKMongolia▽【Committee of Infrastructure Planning and Management】ICE-JSCE Joint Seminar in London (mid Nov)
▽2012 MACE Annual Meeting in Ulaanbaatar (June 15-17)

TurkeyIndonesia▽【Structural Engineering Committee】EIT-JSCE Joint Seminar in Bangkok (mid Sept)

Thailand▽PICE 38th National Convention in Cebu (Nov 22-24)

Philippines
USAOthers▽ASCE 142nd Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Montreal (Oct 18-20)
http://content.asce.org/conferences/annual2012/▽56th ECCE General Meeting in Croatia (Oct 26-27)
http://www.dubrovniksun.hr/prijave/ecce/▽【Call for registration】 Int'l Construction ManagementSeminar ① @ JSCE (Aug 23)

Professional Development &Education Program G▽Int'l Construction Management Seminar④@JSCE (Nov 22)▽Int'l Construction Management Seminar ②@ JSCE (Sept 2 ▽Int'l Construction Management Seminar ⑤@JSCE (Dec 21)▽Int'l Construction Management Seminar ③@ JSCE (Oct 25)

Int'l Student Network G▽14th International Summer Symposium@ Nagoya Univ. （9/5-7）
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/s_iad/Task-based G▽【Calls for Entry: Extended until Aug 20 】ACECC Engineering Project and Achievement Awards (Awadees will be decided at the 6th CECAR: http://www.cecar6.com/previ▽ACECC TC-15 on River Environemt: IAHR-APD 2012 Special Session@Jeju Island, Korea (Aug 19-24)

ACECC Commmittee▽ ACECC TC 16 1st meeting @ Chulalongkorn Univ. in Bangkok (Sept 3-4)
▽ACECC TC-15 on River Environment: ISE 2012 Special Session in Wien, Austria (Sept 16-21)▽ACECC 23rd ECM in Manila (9/21-22)

Ad hocCommittees

Committee on Int'lScientific Exchange
Fund (ISEF)
Civil Engineering
Forum onGlobalization▽2012 JSCE Study Tour Grant in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe (Aug 29-Sept 9)▽ACECC 24th ECM in Taiwan (Jan or Feb)