On July 10 and 11, Toshiya Ueki, Tohoku University's Executive Vice President for General Affairs, International Relations, and Academic Resources, attended the 6th Japan-Indonesia Rectors' Conference, held at Hasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Japan-Indonesia Rectors' Conference was launched in 2012 with the aim of developing comprehensive cooperation and the promotion of academic exchanges between Japan and Indonesia by promoting networking among the two countries' universities.

This was the first time for the conference to be held since the COVID-19 pandemic began, following the most recent one held at Hiroshima University in 2019. The theme of the forum was 'Strengthening Cooperation in Facing Global Uncertainties', and participants included Masaki Yasushi, Japan's Ambassador to Indonesia, and Kazuhiko Yano, a Senior Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Representatives from over 30 Japanese higher education institutions and over 60 Indonesian institutions participated.

Indonesia ranks second in terms of the number of international students at Tohoku University, and the university has already established a number of collaborative partnerships with Indonesian institutions. Throughout the two-day conference, EVP Ueki enjoyed lively discussions with several institutions, including Bandung Institute of Technology, Diponegoro University, State University of Surabaya, and State University of Malang, with the aim of further deepening collaboration.

EVP Ueki also paid a courtesy visit to the rector of Hasanuddin University, who hosted the event, and exchanged views on ways to strengthen cooperation hereafter.