Josai University Educational Corporation

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Josai Co-hosts the Visegrad Plus Japan Security Seminar and V4+Japan Student Conference

On February 4, 2014, Josai co-hosted the Visegrad Plus Japan Security Seminar with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the V4 Consulate of Japan and hosted the V4+Japan Student Conference on February 5.

A glimpse of the V4+Japan Security Seminar

A glimpse of the V4+Japan Security Seminar

A glimpse of the V4+Japan Student Conference

A glimpse of the V4+Japan Student Conference

V4 Plus Japan Security Seminar

The Visegrad Group (V4)―comprised of the Central European nations of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia―is an organization formed to promote amnesty and cooperation among nations. The V4+Japan in turn facilitates dialogue and cooperation between Japan and the V4 nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized many seminars on such topics as economics, environment, joint development, and energy efficiency.
  In addition, as part of Josai’s Mid-term Target of strengthening international exchange to cultivate global human resources, our university has formed academic exchange agreements with a number of institutions worldwide, particularly those located in and around the V4.
  As a part of this project, Josai hosted the V4+Japan Eastern Partnership Seminar (again cosponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the V4) in February 2013.

In the interest of promoting exchange between Japan and the V4, the year 2014 has been declared the year of V4+Japan exchange, with a variety of commemorative events being held in both Japan and the nations of the V4.
  Following last year’s seminar, the V4+Japan Security Seminar was held by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the V4 chair country of Hungary as well as the other V4 nations and Josai, which facilitates academic exchange among V4 nations.
  The seminar, which was held in Josai’s basement auditorium, was attended by members of the Japanese government, V4 ambassadors, diplomatic corps from 25 different foreign embassies, Josai students and faculty, business people, and industry supporters of Josai’s global education―around 170 in all.

Chancellor Noriko Mizuta, speaking at the seminar’s opening, stated, “It is a great honor for Josai to host the V4+Japan seminar once again this year. With the 21st century being the age of global education, our universities are working to contribute to the development of Japan-V4 relations as well as global professionalization by hosting seminars and conferences like this one.” Minister of Foreign Affairs Takao Makino followed with a keynote speech on behalf of the Japanese government. He said, “With the advancement of globalization and drastic shifts in the balance of world power bringing increased threats that transcend national borders, countries are no longer able to resolve these issues and protect the peace and security of their nation in isolation. This is why cooperation between Japan and the V4―two groups with common values―is so vital.”
  Following the keynote speech, the seminar was divided into three sessions (1. Security Environment surrounding East Asia and Japan’s diplomatic challenges, 2.Security Environment surrounding Europe and V4’s diplomatic challenges, and 3.Interlinking the Security Environment of East Asia and Central Europe, and common diplomatic challenges for V4 and Japan) that addressed issues of marine security, cyberspace, and missile defense.
  The seminar was then concluded with a closing speech from Josai International University President Hakuo Yanagisawa.
  This seminar proved to be an extremely valuable opportunity to enhance the global perspectives of students and other participants, all of whom listened with great attention to the various presentations and ensuing discussion.

At present, Josai has advanced their international exchange program by forming academic exchange agreements with 17 different universities in the V4 (9 in Hungary, 4 in Poland, 3 in the Czech Republic, and 1 in Slovakia) and are currently hosting 30 exchange students (at either Josai University or JIU) from these countries. In addition, over 200 students from Josai have studied abroad at the aforementioned universities. Since the program’s start in 2008, a total of 4,000 JU and JIU students have enrolled in the Hungarian language course with courses in Polish and Czech added in April 2013, to even further fulfill Josai’s global education curriculum.

Finally, on November 2013, Josai established the Josai Institute for Central European Studies, a facility devoted to documenting educational achievements in the Central European region and supporting joint research, academic exchange, and professionalization at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Chancellor Mizuta provides opening remarks

Chancellor Mizuta provides opening remarks

Keynote speech from Minister of Foreign Affairs Takao Makino

Keynote speech from
Minister of Foreign Affairs Takao Makino

Keynote speech from Ambassador Szerdahelyi

Keynote speech from Ambassador Szerdahelyi

A look at one of the seminar sessions in progress

A look at one of the seminar sessions in progress

A look at one of the seminar sessions in progress

Participants tune in to the seminar session

Participants tune in to the seminar session

Closing remarks from President Yanagisawa

Closing remarks from President Yanagisawa

A commemorative photo with panelists

A commemorative photo with panelists

V4+Japan Student Conference

The V4+Japan Student Conference was held the following day of February 5 at the 5th floor International Conference Room located in Tokyo Kioicho Campus’ 3rd building.
  This conference was planned by Josai in conjunction with the previous day’s V4+Japan Security Seminar and was recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an official function commemorating the year of V4+Japan exchange. With the goal of facilitating mutual understanding and strengthening solidarity between Japan and the V4, this conference featured panelists that are either young scholars or students from Josai or affiliated V4 universities.
  This conference was also the first Japanese event to receive assistance from the International Visegrad Fund―an organization devoted to the promotion of V4 art, scholarship, education, and tourism―as well as the first event coordinated by the aforementioned Josai Institute for Central European Studies.

Approximately 100 consulate members, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Josai students, V4 university students, exchange students, members of industry, and other attendees participated in this conference.

The conference, emceed by Josai Institute for Central European Studies Deputy Director Nobuhiro Shiba, was conducted entirely in English with remarks from Chancellor Noriko Mizuta, Hungarian Ambassador to Japan Szerdahelyi István, and Slovakian Ambassador to Japan Michal Kottman. The keynote lecture―on the topic of V4 progress to this point―was given by Department of Analysis and Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Deputy Director Jozef Polakovič.
  After breaking for lunch, the conference was divided into four separate sessions (see below), with V4 and Josai student panelists presenting extremely compelling papers on their respective topics followed by lively student-led discussions and Q&A.

Session 1: Regional Disparities in Slovakia and Japan; and Possible Approaches to Their Mitigation
Session 2: V4 Plus Japan Exchange Year: Methods of Deepening Understanding Between Countries
Session 3: Euro and Its Implications for V4 Countries
Session 4: Tokyo 2020: How Can Sport Bring Nations and Organizations Closer?

The conference was not only limited to the venue itself, but was broadcast live in both JU and JIU classrooms, with students from both schools listening with great interest.
  The post-conference reception likewise proved a great opportunity for discussion and debate among conference participants and attendees, thereby further contributing to the cause of international exchange.

Student participants in the conference, in addition to recognizing regional and cultural differences between Japan and V4 nations, were able to deepen mutual understanding through productive discussion, making this event a valuable discussion for these prospective global professionals aiming to make contributions to both national and global development.

Chancellor Mizuta addresses the audience

Chancellor Mizuta addresses the audience

Ambassador Szerdahelyi addresses the audience

Ambassador Szerdahelyi addresses the audience

Ambassador Kottman addresses the audience

Ambassador Kottman addresses the audience

Deputy Director Polakovič delivers his keynote speech

Deputy Director Polakovič delivers his keynote speech

A Prešov University panelist gives their presentation during Session 1

A Prešov University panelist
gives their presentation during Session 1

The lively Q&A

The lively Q&A

A Josai student gives their presentation during Session 2

A Josai student gives their presentation during Session 2

A panelist from University of Economics, Prague gives a presentation during Session 3

A panelist from University of Economics,
Prague gives a presentation during Session 3

A panelist from Budapest Business School gives their presentation during Session 4

A panelist from Budapest Business School
gives their presentation during Session 4

Participants listen eagerly to the presentation

Participants listen eagerly to the presentation

Conference emcee Deputy Director Shiba

Conference emcee Deputy Director Shiba

A glimpse of the post-conference reception

A glimpse of the post-conference reception


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