Okayama University Strengthens Academic Ties with India through Consul General's Visit

Strengthening Academic Links: A Visit from the Consul General of Japan in Mumbai

On December 25, 2025, Okayama University, located in Okayama City, received a significant visit from Koji Yagi, the Japanese Consul General in Mumbai. Accompanied by Kentaro Mori, the chairman and principal of Okayama Gakugeikan High School, the meeting with President Yasuto Nasu focused on strengthening educational and research exchanges between Japan and India, especially with the state of Maharashtra.

While Okayama University has primarily focused on collaboration in Kolkata, West Bengal, this visit brought to light the potential for stronger partnerships with universities in Pune, Maharashtra. Consul General Yagi emphasized the importance of collaboration, highlighting that partnerships with state universities, such as Savitribai Phule Pune University, opened up vast possibilities in fields of science and medicine.

President Nasu reciprocated by expressing a strong need to enhance academic exchanges with Pune, which has a friendship agreement with Okayama Prefecture. He stated, “Through my visit to Pune last month and our discussions today, I feel a strong necessity to further advance our academic exchange with Pune City. Our university is committed to promoting internationalization in both education and research, acting as a bridge between the local community and the world.”

The discussions also highlighted various ongoing projects under the Japan Science and Technology Agency's 'India Young Scientist Brain Circulation Program' (LOTUS Program), which aims to support the reception of researchers from India. Furthermore, there were dialogues on human resource exchanges in the caregiving sector and educational programs centered around Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Going forward, Okayama University plans to strengthen collaborations through discussions with universities in Maharashtra, focusing on developing joint projects and student exchange programs aimed at contributing to sustainable societal development.

The university encourages everyone to look forward to its continuous efforts as a core regional and distinctive research university. This initiative illustrates Okayama University’s dedication to enhancing its global academic presence and strengthening ties with international institutions, particularly in India.

Photograph with participants

This information was released on January 7, 2026, by Okayama University.

References

For inquiries regarding Okayama University’s efforts in strengthening academic and research collaborations, please contact the Okayama University General Affairs Department.