Prof. Akai new director Osaka University Centre Groningen

On April 1 2012, Prof H. Akai has succeeded Prof Y. Hirotsu as director of Osaka University Centre for Education and Research in Groningen.

Recently, the institute celebrated its 80-year anniversary. Osaka University has three overseas centers; one in Bangkok, one in San Francisco and one in Groningen, the latter being its gateway to Europe. The Osaka University Centre Groningen aims to strengthen its support for student and researcher exchanges between Osaka University and European universities and research institutions. Osaka University and the University have been strategic partners since 2002.

Live Locally, Grow Globally

Its university motto being ‘Live Locally, Grow Globally’, the institute organizes various events in Groningen as well as in Japan. Upcoming events are:

- An appetizer course in which students of Osaka University will be trained in English presentation skills by the University of Groningen Language Centre

- A student debate among students from Groningen and Japan

- A science conference on the subject of lasers

- TV-lectures

- A lecture series on Dutch Studies in Osaka by Prof Janny de Jong. She will be the first visiting Dutch Studies professor giving lectures at the Dutch Studies Centre at Osaka University, which was erected at the Tekijuku Memorial Centre on Toyonaka Campus in honor of the 80-year anniversary of the institute