Two young female researchers from South Africa and Botswana, participating in the 2024 "Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan," collaborated by Okayama University and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), paid a courtesy visit to President NASU Yasutomo on October 24. In addition to Vice President for Global Engagement YOKOI Atsufumi, the respective academic advisors of the researchers, Professor WATANABE Shogo from the Graduate School of Health Sciences, and Associate Professor HIRANO Ken from the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology (Agriculture) were attended. During the visit, the researchers shared their backgrounds and research activities. President Nasu mentioned past program participants who had gone on to sign international exchange agreements with the university after returning to their home countries, encouraging the researchers to continue fostering connections with Okayama University and to share information about the program to expand its network and reach more researchers.

On the same day, the young researchers participated in a lunch meeting with Vice President Yokoi and Associate Professor OGOSHI Maho from the Women Tenure Track (WTT) Program at the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology (Science), deepening their academic exchange. Additionally, as part of their cultural experience in Japan, they visited an orchard in Okayama City, where they enthusiastically asked questions about the cultivation methods for muscat grapes and had the opportunity to try pear and persimmon picking.

Okayama University and UNCTAD signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement in January 2020, making us the first university in the world to do so, with the goal to foster human resources in science, technology, and innovation (STI) to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on this agreement, the 'Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan' was established to provide short-term joint research and training ranging from 14 days to 30 days for young female scientists from developing countries in Africa and ASEAN member countries.

Moving forward, Okayama University will continue to strengthen its collaboration with UNCTAD, the UN's central agency responsible for implementing STI for SDGs, and promote efforts to develop human resources for STI for SDGs, advancing this initiative from Okayama to the world and actively sharing it both domestically and internationally.

○United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Established in 1964 and headquartered in Geneva, UNCTAD is the central UN agency that comprehensively addresses trade and development, finance, investment, technology, and sustainable development issues. Its mission is to maximize trade, investment, and development opportunities for developing countries, support developing countries facing challenges arising from globalization, and integrate them into the world economy on an equal footing.