UCM deepens cooperation with Japan

The delegation was led by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic Michal Zsembera and was also attended by representatives of other Slovak universities (UK, STU, TUKE, UMB, TRUNI, TnUAD) and the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The aim of the trip was to deepen existing cooperation and establish new partnerships with Japanese universities and research institutions.

"Japan is an extremely interesting partner for us in terms of research excellence and technological progress. This trip has brought us a lot of impulses and suggestions," said UCM Rector Katarína Slobodová Nováková.

The University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava has been cooperating with Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto for several years, especially in the field of digital games. During the working trip, the delegation also visited the prestigious RIKEN Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, one of the most important research institutes in Japan, which focuses on a wide range of fields - from physics, chemistry, biology and genomics to computing and artificial intelligence. RIKEN has more than 485 international partners and offers internships and research fellowships to bright PhD students from all over the world. Two Slovak scientists are currently working at the institute.

UCM representatives also represented their university at an official meeting with Tokyo universities, which took place at the Slovak Embassy in Tokyo. During the trip they also visited Ryukoku University in Kyoto. The negotiations included exchange of experience, comparison of study programmes and discussion of possibilities of exchange visits, joint research projects and further cooperation.

"Our meetings confirmed that Japanese universities are interested in more intensive links with Europe and see Slovakia as a reliable partner. UCM wants to be an active part of these initiatives," added the rector.

At the end of the working trip, the Slovak delegation visited the EXPO 2025 exhibition centre in Osaka, where Slovak universities were symbolically presented within the national pavilion. The presentation was also an opportunity to stress the importance of internationalisation and the expansion of academic horizons towards East Asia.

Proposal. Mgr. Mgr. Katarína Slobodová Nováková, PhD.