June 28, 2024

On June 28, 2024, the official ceremony of signing the Agreement for Academic Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Student Exchange between Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University and Akita University (Japan) took place in the format of a video conference.

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University was represented at the ceremony by: Acting Rector Oleksandr TURUNTSEV; Head of the Academic Council, Vice-Rector for Research Nataliia VINNIKOVA; Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Languages Ivan SEMENIST; Deputy Dean for Research at the Faculty of Oriental Languages Kostiantyn KOMISAROV; Head of the Department of Japanese Language and Translation Andrii BUKRIENKO; Research Fellow at the Scientific- Research Laboratory for Internationalization of Higher Education Iryna MANKOVSKA.

Akita University was represented at the ceremony by: President of Akita University Yoshihiro MINAMIYA; Vice Rector, Director of International Cooperation Department Takeshi GOTO; Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities Yunichi OHASHI; Associate Professor of the Faculty of Education and Humanities Roman PASKA.

During the signing ceremony, Oleksandr TURUNTSEV, Acting Rector at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, emphasized that an important page in the history of relations between Grinchenko University and Akita University is opening - the official establishment of friendly relations between the universities. He also pointed out that today's meeting is of great importance not only for the universities, but also for the development of Ukrainian-Japanese relations, since education is the foundation around which relations in other areas are built. "Every year, dozens of young people enter Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University and choose Japanese language and Japanese studies as their profession. By studying the Japanese language, unique Japanese culture and traditions, they are already becoming those invisible bridges of friendship that unite our countries and bring Ukraine and Japan closer together," said Oleksandr TURUNTSEV.

President of Akita University Yoshihiro MINAMIYA noted that it was a great honour for him to take part in the ceremony of signing the Agreement for Academic Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Student Exchange between Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University and Akita University. "Grinchenko University has a long history of Japanese language research and is the only institution in Ukraine that trains Japanese language teachers and provides professional qualifications," said Yoshihiro MINAMIYA. He also expressed hope that the exchange of students and researchers will expand and the cooperation between Grinchenko University and Akita University will be strengthened.

Oleksandra GOLOVNIA, a 3rd year student of the Faculty of Oriental Languages at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, who is currently studying at Akita University under the academic mobility program, also took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the establishment of friendly relations between the two universities. During her speech Oleksandra shared her impressions of studying at Akita University.

Finally, the participants of the meeting agreed that cooperation between the universities will continue to include not only the exchange of students and researchers, but will also facilitate the exchange of academic publications and scientific information, organization and participation in joint scientific events, conferences, roundtables and scientific discussions.