Group photo

On July 10, Vice President Nobuo Mishima (International Affairs) of Saga University attended the 4th Japan-North Africa University Presidents’ Conference held at Hotel El Mouradi Gammarth in Tunis, Tunisia. The conference brought together university presidents and vice presidents from Japan, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria to discuss the resumption and expansion of academic partnerships post-pandemic.

During the opening session, Professor NAGATA Kyosuke, President of the University of Tsukuba, delivered the welcome address on behalf of the organizers. Ambassador OSUGA 　Takeshi, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Tunisia, and Mr. BOUKTHIR Moncef, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Tunisia, also addressed the attendees.

In the first session, university presidents and deans from North African institutions introduced collaborative research initiatives with Japanese universities. Discussions centered around the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) as an implementation framework.

The second session featured various proposals for joint research under SATREPS from both Japanese and North African universities. Vice President Mishima highlighted Saga University’s strengths as a small-scale regional national university, emphasizing its agility and focus on research areas such as ocean thermal energy resources and synchrotron light-based material innovation. He also mentioned the academic exchange agreement signed in March 2024 between Saga University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture at Carthage University in Tunisia, which aims to build a network for industrial heritage preservation involving Germany’s Bauhaus University.

Subsequent matchmaking sessions allowed for discussions on future joint research with Dr. Amr Adly, President of the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), and Professor James C. Ogbonna from Nigeria’s State University of Health and Applied Sciences. Discussions took place regarding future joint research initiatives. The topics included energy and food scarcity, and there was an exchange of views on the potential for development in Saga University’s Marine Energy Research Institute and microalgae studies.

The third session celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Mediterranean and North African Research Center at the University of Tsukuba, highlighting collaborative efforts with North African institutions. Throughout the conference, participants reaffirmed the urgency of accelerating and expanding academic cooperation, particularly joint research. Suggestions included sharing information on research grants and collaborating on specific projects. Additionally, support and participation in TICAD9, scheduled for 2025 in Yokohama, were confirmed.

On July 9, Vice President Mishima attended a reception hosted by Ambassador OSUGA 　Takeshi, further enhancing academic exchanges with North Africa.

This visit is expected to invigorate academic exchanges with North Africa and contribute to sustainable collaboration.

Vice President MISHIMA with a delegation from the President of Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)

July 9 Reception with OSUGA Takeshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tunisia (front row, center right)