Josai University Educational Corporation

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The Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Visits Josai, Gives Lecture

On November 13, 2014, The Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Jan Mládek, visited the Tokyo Kioicho Campus where he gave a lecture and met with students. Minister Mládek studied economics at the University of Economics, Prague and mathematics at Charles University in Prague and has worked as Director of the Czech Institute for Applied Economics, First Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture, and most recently, starting this year, Minister of Industry and Trade.

As part of Josai’s plan of strengthening international exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed academic exchange agreements with a number of institutions worldwide, particularly those that are located in the V4 countries of Central Europe―Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. To even further promote exchange between Josai and the V4, the Josai Institute for Central European studies was established on Josai’s main campus in November 2013.

In the Czech Republic, Josai has formed academic exchange agreements with the University of Economics, Prague; Charles University in Prague; and Masaryk University, with Josai International University hosting Czech exchange students starting last year and Josai University this year. Minister Mládek’s visit to Josai is an extension of their exceptional commitment to international exchange.
  Minister Mládek arrived with a delegation from the Czech Embassy led by Tomas Dub, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Japan. Czech and Hungarian exchange students and Japanese students studying at Josai greeted the group as they arrived. The group then met with Josai University Educational Corporation Chancellor Noriko Mizuta, JU President Yasunori Morimoto, JIU President Hakuo Yanagisawa, and other university representatives. Chancellor Mizuta gave introductory remarks by saying, “It is a great honor that you would take time to visit our university. We think that your lecture will provide a precious opportunity for students to learn more about the Czech Republic.” Minister Mládek replied by saying, “I am very thankful for this opportunity.” The meeting then proceeded with greetings of welcome from three Czech exchange students studying at Josai and four former exchange students who became Josai faculty members this year.

Commemorative photo with participants

Commemorative photo with participants

The title of Minister Mládek’s lecture was “The Czech Republic and Japan.” With the Czech Republic as a core member of the EU, Minister Mládek’s speech stressed the importance of a promising entrance by Japan to advance the EU marketplace. During the Q&A, Minister Mládek fielded questions from exchange and graduate students, responding politely to each one. In closing, second year student in the JIU Faculty of International Humanities majoring in International Exchange, Minoru Masumoto, thanked Minister Mládek for his lecture in Czech, drawing a smile from the speaker. The lecture also featured participation from former ambassador to the Czech Republic Tadashi Otaka and his wife, honorary President of the Japan Czech Friendship Association, Setsuko Otaka, with the audience listening in rapt attention.

Minister Mládek delivers his lecture

Minister Mládek delivers his lecture

The lecture concluded with a meet and greet with students based on the strong urging of Minister Mládek. While scheduling permitted just a short twenty-minute session, Minister Mládek was able to meet briefly with all of the students, including Japanese students studying the Czech language and the thirty or so exchange students from the Czech Republic and other V4 nations. The delegation expressed their many thanks and was sent off with a round of applause.

Minister Mládek meets with students

Minister Mládek meets with students

It is our hope that this visit from Minister Mládek will lead to even more productive exchange with the Czech Republic.


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