Hyderabad: The second edition of Japan Month at IIT Hyderabad came to an end on Tuesday. The event focused on building stronger educational ties and collaboration between IIT-Hyderabad and Japan. Dr. Kazuhito Hashimoto, President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), was the chief guest. A total of 72 participants from 15 universities and six organizations in Japan discussed ways to improve student and faculty exchanges, research opportunities, and technology development. They also explored how to support start-ups.
The Japan Academic Day, held on October 21 and 22, marked the conclusion of IIT Hyderabad-Japan Month. Dr. Hashimoto, along with Ariyoshi Takashi, the representative of the Embassy of Japan in India, and Takeuchi Takuro, the Chief Representative of JICA, attended the event as guests of honor during the opening ceremony on October 21.
IIT Hyderabad-Japan Month 2024 ran from August 27 to October 22, aiming to strengthen the bond between IIT-H and Japan through education and research. The event showcased both countries’ shared commitment to fostering collaboration in these areas.
As part of the event, 20 booths were set up where students could learn more about Japanese universities, higher education, research opportunities, and scholarships. Japanese professors and representatives from various universities interacted with students and faculty members. They discussed potential opportunities such as joint supervision, internships, industrial collaborations, and writing joint research proposals.
Dr. Hashimoto acknowledged the completion of the phase II project at IIT-H, which was supported by JICA. He also highlighted the long history of collaboration between JST and India. Dr. Hashimoto spoke about India’s efforts to boost its manufacturing capabilities through the “Make in India” initiative and stressed the importance of a stronger partnership between Japan and India.
Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan, emphasized the key role that IIT Hyderabad plays in the science and technology partnership between India and Japan. He called for even more exchanges in the fields of science and technology to strengthen the relationship further.
Ariyoshi Takashi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to host Japan Academic Day at IIT Hyderabad. He encouraged joint research and study opportunities between Japan and IIT-H. He also spoke about the challenges students may face when studying in Japan and introduced two exchange initiatives offered by the Embassy of Japan: the “MEXT Scholarship” and a scholarship for government-sponsored students.
