Delegation from the Japanese Sasakawa Peace Foundation visits St Petersburg University
As part of St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023, St Petersburg University hosted a meeting with a Japanese delegation from the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the development of cooperation in the Arctic studies and professional education and training in this area.
Sergei Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University, welcomed the members of the Japanese delegation. ‘In today’s challenging geopolitical situation, the University’s relations with Japan’s education and research institutions remain stable,’ he said.
Currently, St Petersburg University offers 505 different degree programmes. Japanese Studies has always been one of the most popular fields of Oriental Studies at St Petersburg University. This is evidenced by the popularity of the bachelor’s programme "Japanese Philology". Also, a few years ago, a new bachelor’s programme "Law (with an In-Depth Study of the Japanese Language and Legal System)" was launched at the University. Additionally, students in some degree programmes, including Economics, also have the opportunity to study the Japanese language.
Sergei Andryushin added that in 2018, St Petersburg University hosted an opening ceremony of the Japanese cabinet in honour of the Russia-Japan cross year.
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Sergey Andryushin noted that the main subject of the meeting with the delegation from the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation is Arctic research. This is a priority area of St Petersburg University’s research and educational activities, in particular those of the Institute of Earth Sciences and the School of International Relations. The University implements several academic programmes focused on research and development of the Arctic region, including the international master’s programme CORELIS (Cold Region Environmental Landscapes Integrated Science).
Ms Sakiko Hataya, Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, praised the academic programmes and research projects implemented by St Petersburg University in the field of Arctic studies.
According to Ms Sakiko Hataya, the Sasakawa Foundation seeks to develop a healthy international community and build peace and international understanding, through international exchange and cooperation.
‘The Sasakawa Peace Foundation aims to strengthen cooperation between Japan and other countries at all levels. As a private foundation, we use our independence to effectively promote activities, proposals and exchanges in search for a new governance model for human society,’ said Sakiko Hataya.
St Petersburg University was founded on 28 January (8 February) 1724. This is the day when Peter the Great issued a decree establishing the University and the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2024, St Petersburg University will celebrate its 300th anniversary.
Ms Sakiko Hattaya added that since its inception, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation has placed special emphasis on supporting the research projects focused on the Arctic and studies of the Arctic Ocean.
At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to develop cooperation in Arctic research and professional education in this area.