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 | The Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra (centre) with the Dean of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Professor Shigeo Fujii (right) and the Professor of Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Professor Kaoru Takara (left) at the signing ceremony. |
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The University of the South Pacific and the Kyoto University from Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 8 September 2012, to advance academic cooperation and exchange between the two universities.
The partnership involves the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), and Disaster Prevention Research Institute of the Kyoto University and USP’s Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment.
Under the agreement, the institutions will engage in the following activities:
· Exchange of scientific materials, publications and information;
· Exchange of students and faculty members; and
· Joint research and research meetings/symposia.
Kyoto University, which is one of the leading universities in Asia, was represented by delegates from the University led by the Dean of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Professor Shigeo Fujii at the signing ceremony.
Speaking at the signing, the Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra spoke of the longstanding and strong relationship between USP and the people of Japan through bilateral arrangements with the governments of USP member countries.
He said that USP and its member countries will greatly benefit from this partnership as GSGES at Kyoto University has expertise in areas such as climate change, energy depletion, resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation and disasters.
“These are major issues which are prevalent in the region and it now gives USP an opportunity to partner with a well established University with an elite team which will harness USP’s objective of capacity building and human resource development in the region,” he added.
While emphasising the need to have current climate change data for research purposes as this will assist in developing policies for vulnerable communities in the region, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the MOU will provide USP an opportunity to build on its capacity to deliver climate change and environmental research by working closely with Kyoto University.
Professor Fujii and his team were assured by Professor Chandra that USP is committed to working closely with Kyoto University on this MOU.
In response, Professor of Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Professor Kaoru Takara shared that Kyoto University was looking forward to collaborating with USP and to strengthen its partnership.
Both Professor Fujii and Professor Chandra also welcomed any future opportunity to work closely on projects or programmes that will benefit the region.
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