On July 9th, Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec, New Zealand) President Rick Ede, Head of Computing Department Hossein Sarrafzadeh and Assoc. Prof. Shaoning Paul Pang visited NAIST. Unitec and NAIST are already conducting collaborative research headed by the efforts of Assoc. Prof. Youki Kadobayashi at NAIST. With this existing relationship, NAIST signed academic agreement with Unitec on March 2012.

At a courtesy visit to the President Naotake Ogasawara, Executive Director Mikio Kataoka, Dean of Graduate School of Information Science (GSIS) Tsukasa Ogasawara, Assoc. Prof. Youki Kadobayashi and Director of Center for International Relations Noriko Ito welcomed the delegation. First general introductions of both universities were given, and then followed by an exchange of opinions and sharing information. After that both presidents signed a memorandum of a purport for the continued cooperation towards the conclusion of double degree agreement.

After the courtesy visit, the guests went on laboratory tours at GSIS. Following this, they had a meeting with GSIS professors and had discussions concerning the possibility of future exchange.

This occasion was a beneficial opportunity to strengthen ties and a step towards establishing official programs, such as the double degree program, for global education opportunities for both Unitec and NAIST students.