Event

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, Kyushu University hosted the KYUDAI NOW Forum in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. This was the first KYUDAI NOW event held in Egypt or the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. It was organized as part of the Japan-Egypt Academic Cooperation Forum, co-hosted by Kyushu University’s International Affairs Division’s J-MENA Project, the Cairo Office, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Cairo Research Station. The forum brought together over 100 participants, including Kyushu University and JSPS alumni, as well as individuals who have studied in or are interested in studying in Japan.

During the morning’s opening ceremony, the event began with a welcome address by Vice President Shuji Shimizu of Kyushu University, followed by guest addresses from His Excellency Hiroshi Oka, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt; Professor Hany Helal, former Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Professor Mahmoud Sakr, Cultural and Scientific Counsellor at the Embassy of Egypt in Japan. Following this, the JSPS Cairo Center celebrated its 40th anniversary with a commemorative event that included remarks and an introduction to the center by Director Naoko Fukami, along with research presentations by Professors Gad El-Qady, Mohamed Abulhassan, and Ibrahim Tantawy, who are involved in JSPS-funded research projects.

In the afternoon KYUDAI NOW Forum, Khaoula Bensaida, a project assistant professor with the J-MENA Project, provided an introduction to Kyushu University. This was followed by research presentations from Professor Koji Inoue from the Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering; Associate Professor Abdelrahman Zkria Ahmed from Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor Osama Eljamal from the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences (IGSES); Assistant Professor Ibrahim Maamoun from the Faculty of Agriculture; Professor Eijiro Jimi from the Faculty of Dental Science; Associate Professor Tomohiko Moriyama from Kyushu University Hospital; and Associate Professor Yutaro Oki from the Faculty of Law and the J-MENA Project. These presentations showcased cutting-edge research and a wide range of academic activities taking place at Kyushu University. The forum concluded with closing remarks from Professor Hussien Soror, President of the Kyushu University Alumni Association in Egypt, followed by a reception where participants deepened friendships and strengthened mutual ties in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

From the following day, official visits were conducted primarily to universities and research institutions with which Kyushu University has signed collaborative agreements. On the morning of October 13, the delegation visited the National Research Centre, followed by Helwan University in the afternoon. On October 14, visits were made to Ain Shams University in the morning and the Faculty of Dentistry at Cairo University and the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute in the afternoon. On October 16, the delegation traveled from Cairo to Alexandria, where they visited Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), established with support from JICA. On October 17, they visited Alexandria University. These visits facilitated broad discussions with university leadership and researchers from various fields, leading to in-depth conversations about potential collaborative research and future cooperative activities. Additionally, on the morning of October 15, the delegation visited Kyushu University’s Cairo Office to gather information about the university’s activities in Egypt and the broader Middle East and Africa regions.

Photo 1. Group photo from the KYUDAI NOW Forum (October 12, 2024)

Photo 2. Scene from the forum venue (October 12, 2024)

Photo 3. Official visit to Ain Shams University, a university-level MOU institution with Kyushu University (October 14, 2024)

Photo 4. Official visit to Alexandria University, a university-level MOU institution with Kyushu University (October 17, 2024)