A NAIST delegation visited Philippines from November 2nd to 4th, 2017.
As part of the Top Global University Project, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) actively recruits promising international students from partner institutions abroad every year. This year, Vice President/Executive Director Kiyomi Kakiuchi, Assoc. Prof. MD Altaf Ul Amin (Graduate School of Information Science: GSIS), Prof. Toshiro Ito (Graduate School of Biological Sciences: GSBS), Prof. Hisao Yanagi (Graduate School of Materials Sciences: GSMS), Junko Iwatsuki (International Activities Coordinator, DGE), and Christian Mananquil Laurio (2nd year doctoral student, GSBS) organized and held recruiting events in the Philippines.
Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU)
In the morning of Friday, November 3rd, the NAIST delegation visited AdMU. NAIST and AdMU have been institution-level partners since 2008, and have had an energetic and prosperous exchange of students and faculty members through the years. NAIST currently has 16 students enrolled from AdMU. First, the delegation led by Vice President/Executive Director Kakiuchi paid a courtesy visit to, Fr. Jose M. Cruz (Vice President for University and Global Relations), Dr. Maria Luz C. Vilches (Vice President of Loyola Schools), and Dr. Evangeline P. Bautista (Dean of School of Science and Engineering). The delegation especially expressed NAIST’s gratitude to Vice President Fr. Cruz for taking part in the Top Global University Kick-off Symposium in March 2015, and for maintaining a strong relationship with NAIST throughout the years.
 Courtesy visit to Vice President Fr. Jose M. Cruz |
 Group photo after the courtesy visit |
Following this, the delegation visited the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE), the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science, and the Department of Biology where Prof. Ito (GSBS) gave a special seminar to approximately 40 students.
Finally, an information session was held at SOSE with roughly 50 student participants. After a few words from Vice President/Executive Director Kakiuchi, Coordinator Iwatsuki chaired a general introduction presentation about NAIST and was followed by Assoc. Prof. Amin, Prof. Ito, and Prof. Yanagi respectively, providing information on educational programs and opportunities to prospective students. Our Filipino student also shared his first-hand experiences at NAIST and the interested participants asked many questions about both academics and life at NAIST. There were many students despite it being the students’ lunch hour, and a large group stayed to ask various questions.
 Opening remarks by Vice President Kakiuchi |
 GSMS introduction by Prof. Yanagi |
University of the Philippines, Diliman (UP Diliman)
In the afternoon, NAIST delegation visited UP Diliman. In 2013, UP Diliman and NAIST established an institutional-academic agreement and NAIST currently has five students enrolled from UP Diliman. The delegation met with Dean Rizalinda L. de Leon and faculty members at the College of Engineering to discuss further collaboration followed by an information seminar held for interested students from the College of Engineering and College of Information Science. Coordinator Iwatsuki introduced the delegation first, followed by a general introductory presentation of NAIST. Assoc. Prof. Amin and Prof. Yanagi followed this by giving thorough introductions of GSIS and GSMS. Finally, Christian described his academic life in NAIST and talked about living in Japan.
Meanwhile, at the Institute of Biology (College of Science), Prof. Ito met with Dr. Sonia D Jacinto and Dr. Michael C. Velarde who hosted Prof. Ito’s research seminar. After a brief meeting about furthering research and education collaboration, Prof. Ito delivered a special seminar to students at the Institute of Biology. The seminar became a full house in almost no time.
The delegation was happy to end the day after having met many interested students through the sessions. NAIST is looking forward to new developments with partner institutions and welcoming new students from the Philippines.
 Coordinator Iwatsuki introducing NAIST at the information session |
 Prof. Ito at the Institute of Biology |
