Under the “Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan" organised by Okayama University and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), two young female researchers arrived Japan, and paid a courtesy visit to President MAKINO Hirofumi on January 25, which is the fifth and final batch of all.
The courtesy visit was attended by Senior Vice President for Global Engagement Strategy YOKOI Atsufumi, Vice President for International Affairs SUZUKI Takayoshi, and others. The young female researchers introduced their background and the research plans to conduct at the university. At the end of the visit, the young female researcher gave a thank-you letter written in calligraphy to President Makino, and the atmosphere of the visit was friendly from start to finish.
On the same day, as a Japanese cultural experience, they visited Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle, experienced matcha tea ceremony for the first time, observed Okayama Castle, and learned about the history and culture of Okayama.
On January 9, 2020, Okayama University became the world’s first university to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UNCTAD. Both entities agreed to develop human resources in “Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals” (STI for SDGs) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and established the joint research and training course for young female researchers from developing countries as a direct result. Based on this agreement, “Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan" offers a short-term joint research and training programme of two weeks to one month for young female researchers from ASEAN and African developing countries in UNCTAD member countries. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the first Phase of the programme in the Academic Year 2021 was conducted online, but in 2022, 14 researchers (8 from South Africa, 2 from Gambia, and 1 each from Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the Philippines) have participated in the prgramme.
As an organizer of this programme, Okayama University is actively strengthening its ties with UNCTAD, a UN body that implements and manages STI for SDGs, and promoting STI for SDGs human resource development domestically and globally.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Their headquarters are located in Geneva. They work together with other UN Secretariat to comprehensively addresses issues related to trade, finance, investment, technology, and sustainable development in developing countries facing various problems arising from globalization by maximizing their opportunities and equipping them with the means to integrate into the global economy on an equal footing.