Keio University Professor Rajib Shaw, Director of India-Japan Laboratory (IJL) and Dr. Yuka Ando, Senior Researcher of IJL, visited Delhi, India, from November 29th to 30th, 2023, and held meetings with H.E. Hiroshi Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to India, Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director-General of the ManoharParrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), and Professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
A fruitful discussion took place at each meeting in which Prof. Shaw explained IJL’s collaboration and cooperation projects with universities across India, followed by exchanges of views on necessity and challenges of promoting exchange students from India to Japan and vice versa. In particular, it has been suggested that further efforts should be made to encourage Indian students to study in Japan, and to that effect, to popularize programs such as Keio University’s GIGA program and PEARL program, which offer degrees to students who complete courses in English. Living conditions, including dietary restrictions, were also noted as important aspect of consideration for foreign students. The participants of the meetings also shared the view that exchanges between Japanese and Indian teachers, which promote one’s understanding about the other school, will be beneficial for both schools in encouraging students to study abroad.
All participants agreed to follow up on the meetings and widen the scope of exchanges between young people in India and Japan.