Japan’s Ambassador to Trinidad & Tobago Tatsuo Hirayama and Minister of Education Anthony Garcia have discussed enhancing bilateral and technical relationships in the field of education.
Ambassador Hirayama’s visit is a follow-up from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and Sophia University in Japan back in 2015 with an aim at improving research and education at both institutions.
Ambassador Tatsuo Hirayama said, beginning the academic year 2019 Sophia University will adopt a semester/quarter system, hence, greater opportunities will arise for students to study abroad, participate in exchange programmes (internships) and more prospects for volunteerism.
The meeting was also attended by Dr Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Permanent Secretary, Lenor Baptiste-Simmons, Chief Education Officer, Harrilal Seecharan and Embassy of Japan First Secretary, Yamato Kobayashi.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and Japan’s Sophia University is grounded within the context of long-standing relations between Japan and countries within CARICOM.
The agreement outlines several areas of academic, scientific and educational cooperation.
It also commits to developing and implementing joint research programmes in areas such as sustainable development, climate change, marine biodiversity, blue economy and the application of technology to drive economic development.