Dr. Yoshiyuki Sakaki
"Science knows no country because knowledge belongs to humanity" and “if science knows no country, the scientist has one”are the words of the great 19th century bacteriologist, Louis Pasteur. Today not only science but also fields such as politics, economics, and industrial activity have been globalized by the development of different modes of transportation, and communication-information technology. People are now required to collaborate effectively, and all countries are expected to work together to achieve development and a society of co-existence through complementary efforts between nations.
Along with politico-economic globalization, the world is also facing global issues such as the energy crisis, the food crisis, global warming, and the evolution of new infectious diseases, all of which are considered to be cross border issues since they affect the quality of life of people throughout the world, and not simply of those at the point where the problem started. In addition to politics and economics, science and technology are indispensable if we are to overcome these global challenges and construct a prosperous world of co-existence.
The current prosperity of Japan, despite its lack of natural resources, can be largely attributed to its advanced technology that leads the world, competent human resources and the manufacture of innovative and high value-added products. Japan has the potential to play an important role in utilizing its accumulated knowledge, research and development, and experience in fostering human resources for the cooperative development of the Asian region and beyond.
Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT), which accepts technical college graduates and others, has been fostering practical, creative and internationally-minded engineers as well-rounded future leaders. It has also been engaged in the research and development of cutting-edge technology and contributing to the development of the country. The International Cooperation Center for Engineering Education Development (ICCEED) was established at TUT in April 2001 as the first institute of its kind in Japan for the purpose of international cooperation in engineering education. The establishment of this institute at TUT is recognition of the excellence of the university’s efforts and past performance. The center has been vigorously conducting international exchange activities, and joint research with other universities, private companies and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through technical cooperation projects and group training throughout Asia. TUT has also been welcoming many international students from Asian and other countries and helping to foster highly capable human resources in the engineering field.
Using these achievements as a basis, ICCEED is determined to continue strengthening various activities towards realizing a prosperous world of co-existence in and around the Asian region. At a time of rapid globalization, we must seek innovative ways of achieving co-existence, including work on the advancement of environment-related technologies, and efforts to establish cooperative mechanisms for the sustainable development of Asia, utilizing the networks of human resources in the region already fostered by ICCEED. We are sure that ICCEED will implement its missions appropriately, and use its best efforts to become an indispensable source of energy for the development of the region and the world.
Greeting from the Director
Dr. Kiyokatsu Jinno
Since its establishment in 1976, Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT) has been carrying the banner of “internationalization”, and has proactively engaged in the development of international engineering education. On the basis of these efforts, the International Cooperation Center for Engineering Education Development (ICCEED) was established in April 2001 with the objective of promoting international cooperation for engineering education in developing countries. This is the fourth center of its kind in Japan, following those established in the fields of educational development (1997, Hiroshima University), agricultural education (1999, Nagoya University) and medical education (2000, University of Tokyo).
The aim of the center is (1) to foster human resources who are effectively and practically engaged in international cooperation in engineering education and (2) to conduct research and development on the formation, operation and evaluation of international education development projects. With the aim of effectively accomplishing its missions, ICCEED has established two divisions: the Division of Engineering Education Network & Database Development, and the Division of Engineering Education Project Development. ICCEED has a steering committee consisting of members invited from governmental and educational organizations that is responsible for deliberating program planning and strategies as well as evaluating center activities.
The Division of Engineering Education Network & Database Development is developing a database of Japanese researchers and specialists involved in international cooperation, and establishing engineering education networks in Japan. The Division works in collaboration with universities, colleges of technology, academic societies and international cooperation divisions in governmental organizations and the private sector. The priorities are: (1) to establish international cooperation networks for engineering education, and (2) to conduct research on international cooperation networks for engineering education. This Division has already carried out research on the maintenance and improvement of human resource databases for international engineering education and on the effective utilization of data banks for mutual cooperation among organizations. In addition, an effective education support system is being developed by utilizing inter-university multilateral networks linking neighboring countries.
The Division of Engineering Education Project Development conducts research on planning, managing, operating and evaluating projects with a view to developing more effective engineering education programs. In accomplishing the projects, the Division has been working in close cooperation with related ministries, development assistance agencies and institutions of higher education. The priorities are: (1) to conduct research and development on evaluation methods for international cooperation in engineering education and (2) to conduct research on the development of engineering education projects. The Division has conducted basic research on assessments of previous engineering education projects, and undertook a study on new evaluation methods and a new evaluation index. The Division is currently engaged in the study and development of projects for promoting university-industry-government (U-I-G) cooperation in Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The Division is also active in training programs for fostering human resources.
Human resource development in the field of engineering is one of the most important and highly anticipated goals in developing countries, and ICCEED is determined to make its best efforts to respond appropriately to the high expectations that different stakeholders have of the Center.