Ahmedabad: O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) hosted a high-level delegation from the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) as part of the India–Japan Higher Education Conclave 2025 held in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The delegation was led by Professor (Dr.) Kaori Hayashi, Executive Vice President for Global and Diversity Affairs at UTokyo, along with Professor (Dr.) Satsuki Shioyama, Project Research Associate at GlobE, University of Tokyo.
The visit, themed “Future of Global Education: India and Japan as Leaders of Knowledge and Innovation,” aligns with JGU’s Act East initiative aimed at strengthening strategic and future-oriented higher education partnerships across Japan and the Indo-Pacific. JGU is currently the only Indian university with an institutional partnership with the University of Tokyo, underscoring the significance of this collaboration. Building on this relationship, the university has developed over 25 partnerships with leading Japanese institutions, enabling student and faculty mobility, joint research, and academic internationalisation.
Addressing the inaugural session, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, said the visit marked an important step in advancing India–Japan academic ties. “This India Tour places higher education at the centre of the India–Japan strategic partnership. Our exclusive collaboration with the University of Tokyo will open new avenues for research innovation, scholar mobility, and strong academic linkages aligned with bilateral priorities in education, technology, and innovation,” he said.
Professor Kumar also highlighted the historical relationship between India and Japan, rooted in diplomatic cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared values that continue to shape Asia’s long-term future. A key outcome of the conclave was the signing of a new Short-Term Study Abroad Programme agreement between JGU and UTokyo. Under the initiative, 40 JGU students will travel to the University of Tokyo each summer for a three-week academic and cultural immersion, further strengthening people-to-people and institutional ties between the two countries.
The Conclave brought together university leaders, policymakers, scholars, and students to discuss the changing global higher education landscape and opportunities for deeper India–Japan cooperation. The programme included policy dialogues, university visits, press interactions, and networking forums focused on developing a long-term roadmap for joint teaching, research, and innovation.
Professor (Dr.) Kaori Hayashi said she was pleased to return to India and engage with JGU. “The vision and philosophy of O.P. Jindal Global University, under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Raj Kumar, were clearly visible. I was particularly impressed by the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. I see significant potential for future collaborations between UTokyo and JGU, as well as between universities in Japan and India,” she said.
Professor (Dr.) Satsuki Shioyama contributed perspectives on comparative education and inclusive academic exchange, emphasising the importance of sustainable and reciprocal collaboration frameworks. Discussions during the visit focused on developing joint and dual degree programmes, expanding faculty and student mobility, and creating innovative formats such as co-taught courses, joint seminars, and hybrid learning initiatives. The visit is expected to culminate in a joint roadmap aimed at strengthening resilient, future-ready India–Japan higher education linkages and contributing to global knowledge and innovation ecosystems.
