NEWS

2027.7.29

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On July 23, 2026, the Social Impact Promotion Office of the University of Tsukuba visited the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan to exchange views on strengthening student mobility between Japan and the Republic of Korea through the “Multicultural Campus Project Toward Social Impact’’ was launched in fiscal year 2025 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Based on this initiative, university promote the project “Nurturing Global Start-uppers through GASSHUKU and DOJO’’. 

Since 2023, the University of Tsukuba has independently organized the Japan–Korea Exchange Program, a multicultural collaborative learning initiative for university students from both countries. Beginning in 2025, the program has been implemented continuously as part of the “Multicultural Campus Project Toward Social Impact (hereinafter referred to as the “SI Project”)’’. In preparation for expanding the SI Project to the Republic of Korea as a commemorative initiative marking the 60th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea, the University launched the Korea Expansion Infrastructure Development Project in December 2025. As a result of these efforts, multicultural collaborative learning programs were successfully conducted in partnership with Jeonbuk National University in February 2026 and Jeju National University in March 2026. 

A key factor behind these achievements has been the close collaboration established with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan since the project’s inception in 2023. One notable example is the co-created educational program jointly organized with the the Korean Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, which includes special lectures and Korean cultural experience sessions. 

The University delegation included Professor IKEDA Jun, Special Advisor to the President and Chair of the Council for Multicultural Collaborative Learning Promotion and Planning; Professor MENA Aaron, Lecturer LEE Geonsil, and Mr. HOZUMI Norihito, Coordinator for Korea Programs. During the meeting, Professor Ikeda introduced the overall SI Project and its Korea-related initiatives to Dr. YANG HoSeok, Chief Education Officer, and Ms. KIM SunHee, Senior Administrative Officer of the Embassy. 

In response, Dr. YANG proposed exploring future collaboration between Japan’s SI Project and the Republic of Korea’s national support initiatives for public universities, including the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) Project and the Regional Hub National University Development Project. The University of Tsukuba also explained its role as the coordinating university for the consortium of the 13 universities selected under the SI Project and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with partner institutions to establish sustainable mechanisms for enhancing student mobility between the two countries. 

Through continued collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Embassy in Japan, the University expects to further expand opportunities for dispatching its students to Korea and welcoming Korean students to Japan, thereby strengthening bilateral student mobility. As a national university implementing one of the largest Japan–Korea reciprocal exchange programs, the University of Tsukuba remains committed to developing globally minded startup talent while serving as a frontrunner in Japan–Korea educational exchange. Through these efforts, the University will continue to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries and contribute to the internationalization strategies of both the University and Japanese higher education. 

<Contact> 
Social Impact Promotion Office, 
Department of Educational Promotion, 
University of Tsukuba 
E-mail: social.impact.staff[at_mark]un.tsukuba.ac.jp 
*Please replace [at_mark] with @ before sending your email. 

Reference Links: 駐日韓国大使館を訪問、ソーシャルインパクト創出支援事業を基盤とした日韓の学生モビリティの強化について議論｜筑波大学ソーシャルインパクト事業【韓国】