8月21日,タイのバンコク市内において,本学および国立六大学国際連携機構の主催で,国立六大学バンコク事務所(SixERS ASEAN Platform:AP-SixERS)開所式を挙行しました。
この事務所は,千葉大,新潟大,金沢大,岡山大,長崎大,熊本大の国立六大学で組織する国立六大学連携コンソーシアムが,戦略上重要な地域にある大学との交流促進を目的として展開する共用事務所の1つで,平成26年11月の長春事務所(中国・長春),平成28年8月の欧州事務所(オランダ・ライデン)に続き3つ目の開所となります。
式には,在タイ日本国大使館の小林茂紀広報文化部長,ASEAN University Networkのチョルティス・ディラティティ エグゼクティブディレクターほか政府機関,タイの本学協定校,バンコクに拠点を置く日系企業関係者ら約100人が出席し,開所を祝いました。
主催者を代表して本学の山崎光悦学長が感謝の意を述べ,来賓を代表して在タイ日本国大使館の小林広報文化部長から期待を込めた祝辞がありました。続いて,関係者によるテープカットが行われ,最後にAP-SixERS所長となる本学の大谷吉生副学長(国際担当)が今後の活用に向けた決意を述べました。この開所式は日・タイ修好130周年記念事業に認定されており,これを契機として両国の教育・研究交流を基盤としたASEAN地域での連携促進が期待されます。
その後,引き続き,事務所が入居するKXビル内見学,バンコク事務所開所記念懇談会が行われました。記念懇談会は,KXビルを所有するモンクット王工科大学トンブリのサカリンドル・ブミラタナ学長による歓迎のあいさつ,新潟大学の髙橋姿学長の乾杯発声に始まり,国立六大学の紹介,来賓からの暖かいメッセージが披露され,AP-SixERSに対する関係者らの期待感が,バンコク中心部で一体となりました。
On August 21, Kanazawa University and SUN/SixERS (Six National Universities International Education and Research System) hosted the Opening Ceremony for SixERS ASEAN Platform (AP-SixERS) in Bangkok, Thailand.
This office is the third joint office established by SUN/SixERS, a consortium of six national universities, Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University and Kumamoto University, after the Asian Platform (Changchun, China) established in November 2014 and European Platform (Leiden, Netherland) established in August 2016. The purpose of the joint offices is to promote exchanges with excellent universities on the globe, particularly with those in the regions of strategic importance.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Shigeki Kobayashi, Head of the Cultural Public Relations Department at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, Executive Director of ASEAN University Network, and approximately 100 participants from government agencies, partner institutions in Thailand, and Japanese businesses located in Bangkok, and they celebrated the opening of the new office.
At the ceremony, President Koetsu Yamazaki of Kanazawa University offered his gratitude as the representative of the host, and Mr. Kobayashi, Head of the Cultural Public Relations Department at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, offered his congratulations on behalf of the guests. Following their remarks, the affiliated participants cut the ribbon, and the Director of AP-SixERS, Prof. Yoshio Otani, Vice President for International Affairs at Kanazawa University, closed the ceremony with a few words about the upcoming utilization of the office. The ceremony is recognized as a memorial event of the 130th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations. We anticipate promotion of collaborations in the ASEAN region based on the academic and research exchanges between the two nations.
Afterward, there was a tour of KX Building where the office is, and the Memorial Party for the Opening Ceremony of AP-SixERS took place. The party began with a welcome speech from President Sakarindr Bhumiratana of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology-Thonburi which owns KX Building, followed by a toast by President Sugata Takahashi of Niigata University, introduction of SUN/SixERS, and warm messages from the honorable guests. Much hopes for AP-SixERS came together in the heart of Bangkok.