On March 13, Professor Eyjólfur Gu?mundsson, rector of the University of Akureyri, visited Kobe University.

Professor Eyjólfur first met with President FUJISAWA Masato, and then had a meeting with Kobe University’s Executive Vice President NAKAMURA Tamotsu (Director of the Institute for Promoting International Partnerships). Their meeting was also attended by the following people: SHIBATA Akiho (Director of the Polar Cooperation Research Centre (PCRC)/Professor of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies), HANADA Eva (Associate Professor of the Institute for Promoting International Partnerships), NAKAHARA Masato (Assistant Professor of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies), and IMURA Takashi (Director of the International Department).

Vice President NAKAMURA began by welcoming the visitor. Rector Eyjólfur give an overview of the University of Akureyri and Iceland, and explained about their ICT-related efforts, including classes. After this meeting, Rector Eyjólfur gave a lecture at the PCRC’s 24th international seminar “Governance and Global Challenges: The Future of International Law in the Polar Regions”.

The University of Akureyri was founded in 1987, and consists of the School of Health, Business and Natural Sciences and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is the third largest university in Iceland. The PCRC at Kobe University’s Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies is actively promoting academic exchange with the University of Akureyri’s Polar Law Institute through the latter’s Master’s course in Polar Law.

It is hoped that this visit will result in further academic exchange between Kobe University and the University of Akureyri.

(International Affairs Planning Division)