Celebrating 20th Anniversary of Cooperation between AGH University of Krakow and SIT

2024/11/07
  • Global
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On November 5th, the Ceremony was held on the Toyosu campus to celebrate 20th anniversary of cooperation between AGH University of  Krakow and Shibaura Institute of Technology.
This event follows the ceremony held at AGH in May 8th to celebrate the 20th Anniversary Ceremony of Agreement with AGH.
The ceremony was attended by Professor Jerzy Lis, Rector of AGH, Professor Rafal Wisnowski, Vice Rector of AGH, Professor Janusz Szmyd Rector’s Proxy for Cooperation with Japan, AGH, Mr. Pawel Swierk, Director, Centre for International Affairs, AGH, Mr. Tomasz Gwozdowski, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Poland, Ms. Julia Cichy, Secretary, Embassy of Poland,  Akira Kono, Ambassador of Japan to Poland(Online), and Mr. Takeo Suzumi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Professor Jun Yamada, President of SIT, and Professor Akito Takasaki, Vice President of SIT, and Dr. Masato Murakami, the former President of SIT to celebrate the anniversary.

At the ceremony, Dr. Masato Murakami, former president of SIT, was conferred the honorary title of AGH Honorary Consul. Rector Lis of AGH received the Honorary Doctorate from SIT, and Professor Szmyd of AGH was awarded the Distinguished International Achievement Award by SIT.

Additionally, Shigeru Ban, SIT's Special Invited Professor, delivered a special address on his collaborative project with local students in Poland. Vice President Takasaki provided an overview of the 20-year history of collaboration between AGH and SIT.

The SIT Kendo Club showcased Nihon Kendo Kata, kendo practice, and Iai. All attendees were captivated by the performance, recording it on video. The ceremony concluded with a live performance by the Shibaura Symphonic Wind Orchestra, offering a prayer for continued cooperation.

 
〇6D7A8462AGH proceed with the conferral ceremony of the Honorary Consul to Dr. Masato Murakami, the former President of SIT.
〇6D7A8486President Yamada confered  the Honoral Doctorate of SIT to Rector Lis.
 
〇6D7A8503Chairman Suzumi confered the Distinguished International Achievement Award to Professor Szmyd.
〇IMG_9944.JPGCongratulatory message from Mr. Tomasz Gwozdowski, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland.
 
〇6D7A8397Congratulatory message from Mr. Akira Kono, Ambassador of embassy of Japan.
 
〇IMG_9485.JPGSpecial speech from Professor Shigeru Ban, Special Invited Professor of SIT.
 
〇IMG_9993.JPGSpecial speach from Vice President Akito Takasaki, who will introduce the 20-year history of collaboration between AGH and SIT.
〇IMG_9595.JPGDemonstration by the SIT Kendo Club.
 
〇6D7A9214.JPGPerformance by Shibaura Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
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【Speech from President Yamada】

First of all, it is my great honor to be here today to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all professors and staffs to kindly support our relationships in the past 20 years.

On this occasion, let me briefly share the onset and history of AGH and SITs’ cooperations. The mutual exchange between AGH and SIT began when the late Professor Kenjiro Suzuki, who was a mentor of Professor Janusz Szmyd( while he was at Kyoto University, and Professor Kenjiro Suzuki moved to Shibaura Institute of Technology in 2003.  After Professor Kenjiro Suzuki passed away in 2007, Professor Takasaki took over the joint research and student exchange program.  Those activities were taken over very successfully because of strong and passionate support by Professor Szmyd.  In an educational institute in general, when one of the collaborators retired or replaced, it would be difficult to continue programs, but Professor Szmyd and Professor Takasaki have carried on the Professor Suzuki's legacy and philosophy towards internationalization of universities.   As a result, we have achieved more than 200 student exchanges in the past 20 years. 

In 2010, Professor Szmyd and Professor Takasaki developed and introduced the doctoral double degree program with AGH. This program is the first double degree system in SIT.    Moreover, in 2020, they introduced a double degree system in the master's program under the generous support from Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, NAWA.  None of this would have been possible without the enthusiasm and hard work of Professor Szmyd and Professor Takasaki, and we are sincerely grateful for their contribution.  Without those achievements, SIT would not be selected as Top Global University by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan in 2014.

In 2015, the SIT’s Board of Directors decided to award Honorary doctoral degree to Professor Tadeusz Słomka, former Rector of the AGH, and Professor Szmyd for their contribution of strong cooperations.  On the other hand, AGH kindly awarded Honorary Consul to Mr. Igarashi, the late Chairman of SIT, and Professor Takasaki in Tokyo at the occasion of the SIT’s 90th Anniversary of Foundation.
In addition to student exchanges between AGH and SIT, SIT emphasizes Poland to be very important country to cooperate.  In fact, currently two female Polish faculty members have been hired as full-time status, and they are very active in research and education at SIT.  It is noteworthy that one of them is alumni of AGH-SIT doctoral double degree programs.

In terms of cooperation between AGH and SIT so far, we have done successful exchanges with the Faculty of Energy and Fuels in AGH.  However, I hope to develop further exchanges in other fields in the future.
Finally, and once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all professor and staff members to continuously support for our relationships in the past 20 years.
Thank you very much for participating this memorable ceremony today.

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【Speech from Rector Lis】

Today, it is with great honor that I participate in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of collaboration between Shibaura Institute of Technology and AGH University of Krakow. This is a special moment that allows us to reflect on two decades of fruitful academic, research, and cultural cooperation.

First and foremost, please accept my deepest gratitude for awarding me the prestigious title of Honorary Doctoral Degree Shibaura Institute of Technology. This distinction is not only a great honor for me but also a symbolic recognition of the longstanding collaboration between our institutions. I accept this title with pride and humility, fully aware that it is the result of the shared efforts and dedication of many individuals from both Shibaura Institute of Technology and AGH University of Krakow.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this honor and to assure you that I will continue to actively support the growth of our cooperation, which has become a model for international academic relations.

The cooperation between our institutions was born from the vision and commitment of many people, and today we can collectively celebrate its remarkable achievements. Over these years, we have developed a strong network of academic exchange and research collaboration, which has contributed to the improvement of education quality and the creation of innovative research projects. It is particularly worth emphasizing that one of the most significant outcomes of our partnership is the launch of a joint second-cycle degree program in Energy and Environmental Engineering, realized thanks to the joint efforts and support of, among others, Professor Janusz Szmyd from AGH and Professor Akito Takasaki from SIT. This project is an excellent example of academic synergy, combining the knowledge and expertise of our institutions.
Over the past 20 years, our universities have enabled hundreds of students and researchers to participate in exchange programs, including the Erasmus+ program, which has contributed to the development of their careers and the acquisition of valuable international experiences. Joint research projects, initiatives, and numerous internships and mobility programs have shown how important and fruitful cross-cultural collaboration can be.

As we celebrate this 20th anniversary, I want to emphasize that it is the result of the hard work and commitment of not only our academic communities but also the support of government institutions and international organizations. It is thanks to our joint efforts, visions, and ambitions that we have built a partnership that transcends both geographical and cultural boundaries.
It is impossible not to acknowledge the individuals who have made a particularly significant contribution to the success of our collaboration. I am grateful to all the professors, students, and staff of both institutions who have been developing this relationship over the years.
This cooperation is a testament to the powerful impact of joint actions in the pursuit of scientific progress and mutual understanding.

I would also like to extend my thanks to the institutions and individuals who supported the organizational aspects of our collaboration, both at AGH and Shibaura Institute of Technology. Your dedication has been crucial to its success.
This anniversary is a perfect opportunity to look towards the future with renewed energy. I believe that many more years of intensive and fruitful cooperation lie ahead of us, which will continue the traditions of our institutions and inspire future generations of students and researchers.
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this special celebration!

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