President of AASTU, Ethiopia visited Kyoto University

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Dr. Dereje Engida, the President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) which is one of the counterpart institutions of SATREPS-MNGD project visited Kyoto University with the following five scholars from Ethiopia. The visit was arranged through the invitation by JICA Ethiopia Office,

1. Worash Getaneh, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, Addis Ababa University (AAU)
2. Matiwos Ensermu, President Office Head with the Rank of Vice president, AAU 
3. Zerihun Getaneh, Addis Ababa University Board of Directors Office Head, AAU
4. Zerihun Berhane, Head of Africa Asia Center, AAU
5. Enyew Adgo, Vice President for Research and Community Services, Bahir Dar University (BDU)

At 9:00 a.m., the group went to the Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall of Kyoto University to meet with Professor Shinya Takeda, Dean of the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS), Professor Gen Yamakoshi, Vice Dean of the Graduate School, and Professor Motoki Takahashi, Director of the Center for African Area Studies. They explained the history of Area Studies at Kyoto University, education, and research activities with international universities. The group also met with Ethiopian students studying at ASAFAS, who are expected to play a key role in the future development of academic exchange between the universities.

At around 10:00 a.m., the group visited the History Exhibition Room in the Kyoto University Centennial Hall, where they discussed the history of Kyoto University up to the present and the process of incorporation, with an explanation from Dr. Wakamatsu, Kyoto University Research Administration Center. At 11:00 a.m., they moved to the Guest Room and met with Prof. Kyoko Inagaki, Executive Vice-President of Kyoto University, Prof. Kaoru Kitajima, Deputy Executive Vice President and Director of the North American Center, Kyoto University, and Ryokei Yoshimura, Professor of Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University. They also exchanged positive views on future inter-university exchanges.

Dr. Dereje, President of AASTU, the main counterpart of the SATREPS-MNGD project, also met with Prof. Hideaki Yasuhara of the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University to review the progress of the MNGD Project and to exchange information on the accreditation of the university and other issues.