HWG LU concludes agreement to intensify partnership with the Nagoya City University (NCU) and expands research exchange on energy transition with Fukushima University.
Japan is one of the three country focal points of the renowned East Asia Institute (OAI) of the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences (HWG LU); relations with partners there are correspondingly important for the university. The otherwise lively exchange between OAI and the Japanese partner universities was, like so many things, severely slowed down during the Corona pandemic and largely limited to virtual space. To fill the German-Japanese partnerships and contacts with new life was therefore the declared goal of a one-week trip of the university and institute management at the beginning of March: University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller and Prof. Dr. Frank Rövekamp, Director of the East Asia Institute and profound Japan expert, visited the partner universities Fukushima University, Sophia University, Aoyama Gakuin University and Nagoya City University on site. Furthermore, the program included an exchange with the Japanese representation of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Institute for Japanese Studies and the German Chamber of Foreign Trade.
"The partnerships are essential for the renowned degree program 'International Business Management (East Asia)' of the East Asia Institute, which includes a mandatory stay abroad in East Asia for our students," explains Institute Director Prof. Dr. Frank Rövekamp, adding, "They are also indispensable for the research and transfer activities of the OAI." "In addition, we were keen to expand our university partnerships for other courses and departments in the areas of teaching, research and transfer," adds university president Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller.
One of the highlights of the trip was the "Signing Ceremony" for a Contact Point Agreement with Nagoya City University (NCU) in Nagoya. With the signing of the agreement by the presidents, Prof. Dr. Kiyofumi Asai and Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, HWG LU belongs to the exclusive circle of five universities worldwide that maintain an intensive, extended exchange with NCU in the areas of teaching, research and transfer. In addition to the expansion of the relationship with the OAI, NCU is particularly interested in establishing and expanding the exchange with the nursing and midwifery programs - after all, NCU operates one of the largest regional hospitals with over 1000 beds.
Another highlight of the Japan trip was the visit to Fukushima University, partner of OAI since 2016, where three students of the study program "International Business Management (East Asia)" are currently spending their year abroad. During the visit, the expansion of the cooperation to research and transfer was discussed in particular: After the nuclear accident in 2011, Fukushima Prefecture is striving to be a pioneer in the complete conversion to renewable energy in Japan. This provides very interesting opportunities for comparison with German energy policy. For a deeper understanding, Prof. Dr. G. Piller and Prof. Dr. F. Rövekamp then visited a state-of-the-art plant for the production of hydrogen from solar and wave energy in Namie on the coast of Fukushima. Energy topics have been a focus at OAI for several years; the deepened contacts with Fukushima University open up further perspectives here in the future.
Technical contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr. Frank Rövekamp
Head of East Asia Institute
Tel. 0621/5203-438
E-mail: roevekamp@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 oai.de
