SOAS visits Japan
In November 2022, a SOAS delegation led by SOAS Director, Adam Habib, visited Japan to explore the possibility of strategic partnerships with Japanese universities, in addition to meeting with existing SOAS partners and donors and alumni in Tokyo.
The delegation included Kanina Foss, Chief of Staff, Fabio Gygi, Chair of the Japanese Research Centre, Lucia Dolce, Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhism, Nana Sato-Rossberg, Professor in Translation Studies and Ulrich Volz, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Professor Habib and the delegation visited Keio University, Kyoto University, the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), Sophia University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) and Ritsumeikan University.
The delegation discussed with the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) the possibility of hosting joint symposiums and workshops for PhD students. Whilst the meeting with existing partner, Sophia University, strengthened the renewal of the existing partnership which enables SOAS students to study a dual MA in Japanese Studies by spending an additional year in Tokyo to their one-year Masters in London, and Sophia students to complete their two-year Masters with a year in London.
Professor Habib and the delegation also visited the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) an existing partner institution in student exchanges. TUFS and SOAS are members of the Consortium for Asian and African Studies (CAAS), which was established in March 2007. The two universities have strengthened their ties in research and educational activities targeting the Asia-Africa region. In April of the same year, TUFS established an overseas office at SOAS to promote academic exchange between the two universities; in 2015, the office was renamed the Global Japan Office and has been active in student exchange and activities such as providing information on studying in Japan and introducing Japan.
Professor Habib also visited Ritsumeikan University and met with President Yoshio Nakatani. They discussed Ritsumeikan’s strengths in Game Studies, through their Ritsumeikan Center for Game Studies (RCGS), and the importance of the humanities in understanding the potential of gaming to transform society.
The SOAS delegation also hosted an alumni event at the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo, which was attended by alumni from a range of disciplines and prospective students. The event was facilitated by three of our alumni ambassadors in Japan.
Finally, Professor Habib delivered a seminar to staff and students at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo. The seminar was titled “Reimagining Higher Education for a More Inclusive World.” He spoke about the difficulty of creating equitable partnerships in an unequal world, and SOAS’ commitment to defining what equitable partnerships truly mean.
