Welcome Address

Welcome Address by the Board of Directors Professor Kitano of Kyoto University

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and our distinguished guests. My name is Masao Kitano, a board member of directors in charge of education at Kyoto University. On behalf of Kyoto University, let me express my great pleasure and honour to welcome all of you, especially those who have come to Kyoto from afar to this 8th Next Generation Global Workshop, entitled “Demographic Challenges in the Era of Global Ageing and Migration”.

I am very delighted to know that the workshop focuses on demography and mobility issues as global challenges that fits our vision. Kyoto University was founded in 1897 as the second imperial university of Japan in the former capital city of Japan that lasted for more than 1,000 years. Kyoto University has worked to cultivate academic freedom under a spirit of self-reliance and self-respect. The university has also sought to contribute to peaceful coexistence across the global community. the University has already launched the WINDOW projects which shows Wild and Wise, International and Innovative, Natural and Noble, Diverse and Dynamic, Original and Optimistic, and finally Women and Wish in order to catch up to and lead the trend of globally changing higher education. We will enrich education in both faculties and undergraduate/graduate schools through enhancing the educational curricula in both levels and raising the mobility of students between Kyoto University and overseas partner universities. The establishment of the double and joint degree programs is our central agenda at present. For this reason, we are happy to know that the organizer, Kyoto University Asian Studies Unit in collaboration with related international offices of each department, develops the joint degree programs.

I believe this workshop will make a significant contribution academically and socially towards the betterment of society and broadening its capacity to overcome global issues in collaboration with institutions and experts from all over the world. As the organizer has already mentioned, we have participants from Nepal where thousands of people were deprived of their lives and livelihoods due to the last massive earthquake. We would like to convey our deepest sympathy and condolence to the victims with our sincere hope for earlier recovery and reconstruction of people’s lives. As part of international academic networks that do not only share academic concerns but mutual social responsibilities, we would like to make humble  contributions to people in the disaster-stricken areas in Nepal.

In conclusion, I wish all of you will spend wonderful and fruitful stay in the historical city of Kyoto. Thank you very much.