Josai University Educational Corporation

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Josai University Confers Honorary Doctorate to Czech Prime Minister

On June 28, 2017, Josai University (President: Professor Akira Shirahata) presented an honorary doctorate to His Excellency, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka of the Czech Republic. The Prime Minister was visiting Japan in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Japan. In company with Czech business leaders, he conferred on science, investment, tourism, research and development, etc. with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and members of Japanese business world. He kindly found time between official visits to visit our university, which has strong ties with universities in Central Europe.

Prime Minister Sobotka and his delegation arrived on campus just after 10 o’clock in the morning. The ceremony started with a welcome speech from Professor Motoyuki Ono, Chancellor ad interim of Josai University Educational Corporation: “Your visit today marks another huge step in our very fruitful interaction with the Czech Republic, and I hope that our good relations will continue to develop and flourish.” Further, Professor Shirahata, the President of Josai University, commented on Josai’s past interactions with the Czech Republic, and closed his introductory speech with following words: “I know that Prime Minister Sobotka’s visit and lecture today will stand out as yet another high point in our interaction with the Czech Republic, which I am certain will continue to flourish.”
  After Prime Minister Sobotka offered words of gratitude for the conferment of the honorary doctorate, he delivered the commemorative speech titled, “Future of Europe from the Perspective of the Czech Republic.” He closed out his speech by saying: “I am sure that all the challenges, which the European Union is currently facing and which we have discussed here today, have their concrete solution. The future of the EU lies in the hands of its member states. It is essential to carry on their beliefs, their confidence in cooperation possibilities and their effort to ensure peaceful development, stability and prosperity to Europe and to ensure dignity to the people. The Czech Republic wants to participate in this effort, because its successful and prosperous future in the globalized world cannot be separated from the European Union.” During the Q&A session, Prime Minister Sobotka, who seemed pleasantly surprised when a Japanese student posed a question Czech, answered several questions from Josai students and a member of Japan Czech Friendship Association. After the oration, the Prime Minister kindly posed for commemorative photographs with Josai students studying the Czech language; and with our staff members and students from Central Europe.

The lunch reception following the awarding ceremony began with H.E. Mr. Kaoru Shimazaki, Japanese Ambassador to the Czech Republic giving a complimentary speech and H.E. Mr. Tomas Dub, Ambassador of the Czech Republic offering a toast. In the hall, Czech media interviewed Japanese students studying Czech language.

Our university has been actively enhancing international exchanges with various universities in the world with the aim of developing human resources with international perspective. We have also been strategically emphasized interactions with educational institutions in the V4 Group of Nations: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the Slovak Republic. We have entered into academic exchange agreements with three Czech universities: Masaryk University, which is Prime Minister’s alma mater, University of Economics, Prague and Charles University in Prague. In the past three years, we have received five students from our partners, while Josai and Josai International University have sent 14 students to them. One former student from Masaryk University now works for Josai University as an administrative staff. Josai annually co-hosts a seminar in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and embassies of each V4 country in Tokyo. We started teaching Czech language in 2013 at both universities in hopes of stimulating students’ interest in the country and in Central Europe. 804 young scholars have taken up the challenge in the five years since then.

Visit to Josai coverage on National broadcasting Czech Television, Prima televise

Prime Minister Sobotka (center) receiving honorary doctorate, Czech Ambassador Mr. Tomas Dub is second from right

Prime Minister Sobotka (center) receiving honorary doctorate,
Czech Ambassador Mr. Tomas Dub is second from right

Prime Minister Sobotka delivering his lecture

Prime Minister Sobotka delivering
his lecture

Prime Minister Sobotka answering questions from students

Prime Minister Sobotka answering questions from students

With students of Czech language classes

With students of Czech language classes

With students and staff members from Central Europe

With students and staff members from Central Europe

Japanese students being interviewed by Czech media

Japanese students being interviewed by Czech media


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