Ahmedabad: O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) warmly welcomed a distinguished delegation from the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) today as part of the India–Japan Higher Education Conclave 2025 in Ahmedabad. The delegation was headed by Professor (Dr.) Kaori Hayashi, Executive Vice President (Global and Diversity Affairs), alongside Professor (Dr.) Satsuki Shioyama, Project Research Associate at GlobE, University of Tokyo.
The visit, themed “Future of Global Education: India and Japan as Leaders of Knowledge and Innovation,” forms a key pillar of JGU’s Act East mandate aimed at deepening strategic and future-oriented higher-education partnerships across Japan and the Indo-Pacific. JGU remains the only Indian university to hold an institutional partnership with UTokyo—underscoring the exclusivity and strategic depth of this collaboration. Building on this relationship, JGU has developed over 25 university-wide partnerships with leading Japanese institutions, facilitating two-way academic mobility, joint research, and institutional internationalisation.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, stated: “This India Tour substantially advances JGU’s Act East mandate and places higher education at the heart of the India–Japan strategic partnership. Our exclusive partnership with the University of Tokyo will unlock new platforms for research innovation, the circulation of scholars, and robust academic linkages that directly support bilateral priorities in education, technology, and innovation.”
He further noted that the partnership draws on the historic ties between India and Japan—anchored in diplomatic cooperation, cultural understanding, and shared values shaping the Asian region’s long-term future.
During the conclave, JGU and UTokyo signed a new agreement launching a Short-Term Study Abroad Programme, under which 40 JGU students will visit the University of Tokyo each summer for a three-week academic and cultural immersion. The initiative aims to further strengthen people-to-people and academic exchanges between the two nations.
The Conclave convened university leaders, policymakers, and scholars to discuss the evolving global education landscape and the future of India–Japan cooperation in higher education. The India Tour included policy dialogues, university visits, networking forums, and strategic discussions to design a roadmap for future joint teaching, research, and innovation partnerships.
Professor (Dr.) Kaori Hayashi remarked: “I was very happy to visit India again, especially Ahmedabad and our close partners, O.P. Jindal Global University. The vision and philosophy of JGU, under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Raj Kumar, were evident across the campus. I was particularly impressed by JGU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. I see great potential in future collaborations between UTokyo and JGU, as well as between other universities in Japan and India—two critical Asian nations that value liberal democracy.”
Professor (Dr.) Satsuki Shioyama contributed insights on comparative education and gender perspectives, focusing on mechanisms that make academic exchange more inclusive and sustainable.
Discussions between the two institutions focused on designing academic pathways, dual and joint degree frameworks, and integrated research collaborations. Areas of engagement include faculty and student mobility, co-taught courses, hybrid learning, and the creation of cross-institutional formats for teaching and innovation.
Professor (Dr.) Akhil Bhardwaj, Vice Dean (Office of International Affairs & Global Initiatives), JGU, said: “This India Tour with UTokyo lays strong foundations for long-term collaboration in faculty exchange, student mobility, and co-created initiatives connecting universities, industry, and government stakeholders. Anchored in mutual respect and co-design, these efforts will benefit learners and researchers in both countries.”
The visit will culminate in a joint roadmap to advance resilient, future-ready India–Japan higher-education linkages, contributing meaningfully to global knowledge and innovation ecosystems.