Nagoya University hosted a delegation from North Carolina State University (NC State) for a celebration marking 40 years of institutional cooperation between the two universities. The anniversary events, held in the week of February 17, 2025, featured a series of academic exchanges, ceremonial events, and the strengthening of future collaborative initiatives. The celebration reached its pinnacle on February 18 with a special ceremony at the Noyori Conference Hall on the Nagoya University Higashiyama Campus. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson delivered a keynote lecture, following welcome remarks by Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama. Vice-President Norimi Mizutani of Nagoya University and Vice-Provost for Global Engagement Amy Conger of NC State provided historical context by presenting an overview of the four-decade partnership.
A highlight of the program was a panel featuring current and former students from both institutions. Notable speakers included Dr. Brian Waters, now a lecturer at Fukuoka University, Dr. Scott Lupton, who heads the Data Science and Technology Innovation division at Nomura in Tokyo, and Shohei Sato, who currently works at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Current Nagoya University students Norika Ichiyanagi and Keita Nakajima shared their perspectives on the international partnership's impact on student life.
The day's events culminated in a symbolic tree planting ceremony, where Chancellor Woodson and President Sugiyama planted dogwood trees near the International Building. The dogwood, North Carolina's state flower, serves as a lasting symbol of the flourishing relationship between the two institutions.
The celebration also included focused discussions on future collaboration, with meetings between deans and other faculty members from various graduate schools and research institutions, including the Graduate School of Engineering, the Center for the Studies of Higher Education, and the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences. The delegation from NC State included deans from five colleges as well as Vice Chancellor and Dean from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, demonstrating the broad scope of the partnership. In addition, three faculty members from the Provost's Faculty Fellows Program spent a week on campus to explore academic leadership roles by meeting with the Nagoya University representatives from various disciplines.
The celebration underscored both universities' commitment to international education and research collaboration, setting the stage for continued cooperation in the decades to come. The signing of a new bilateral exchange agreement during the ceremony further cemented this enduring partnership.
The relationship between Nagoya University and North Carolina State University stands as one of the longest-running partnerships between Japanese and American universities, fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural understanding since 1985.
