On January 16, 2025, Kobe University (Kobe U) hosted a booth at UW Study Abroad Fair 2025 held at the University of Washington (UW), USA. Project Professor NISHIMURA Yukihiro (Graduate School of Business Administration) and Project Associate Professor IKEMURA Akiko (Graduate School of Agricultural Science/Center for Next Generation, Institute for Promotion of Higher Education) provided an introduction to Kobe University focusing on the Kobe International Business Education and Research (KIBER) Program and the Inter-University Exchange Project Summer Program 2025. The Kobe U booth was also supported by Ms. TAKAOKA Kae from Hyogo Business & Cultural Center, a Kobe U student currently studying at UW, and two UW students who joined the Inter-University Exchange Project Summer Program 2024.

More than 800 students attended UW Study Abroad Fair 2025, with over 100 visiting the Kobe U booth. They asked a wide range of questions, showing strong interest in studying at Kobe U. Some commented that they were able to gain a clearer picture of the programs by speaking directly with Kobe U representatives. Opportunities to share information face-to-face in English is important for strengthening outreach efforts and attracting more prospective international students to Kobe U.

The UW Study Abroad Fair 2025
 

During the stay in Seattle, Project Professor Nishimura and Project Associate Professor Ikemura visited the Office of Global Affairs at the University of Washington. They met with Director Wolf Latsch, Assistant Director Shannon Quinn and Manager Taylor P. Ahana-Jamile to discuss future collaboration between the two universities.

Meeting with director Wolf Latsch and the Office of Global Affairs at the UW 

They also met with Professor OHTA Kaoru (Asian Languages & Literature, College of Arts & Sciences) to discuss exchange-oriented collaborative courses under the inter-university partnership. A study abroad student from Kobe U is going to join Professor Otha’s class from April 2025.

Meeting with Professor Ohta 

In addition, they introduced Kobe University in the Certificate of International Studies in Business (CISB) Japan track course at the Foster School of Business. This course brings together Japanese students studying in the United States and UW students who plan to study in Japan or have returned from study abroad. Mr. ONITSUKA Hiroki, class coordinator, supports students’ career development through activities such as group discussions, business etiquette learning and business proposal projects, while utilizing CISB’s extensive international network.

Certificate of International Studies in Business

This visit further strengthened academic and educational ties with the University of Washington and is expected to deepen cooperation between the two institutions in the future.

Relevant URLs:

(Global Engagement Division)