Global Programs

Penn State, Tohoku University eye further research partnership activities

Lee Kump, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and professor of geosciences at Penn State, visited Tohoku University and met leadership on Oct. 29 and 30, 2024. (From left to right): Yumiko Watanabe, specially appointed professor of the Global Learning Center and a Penn State alumna; Masahiro Yamaguchi, vice president for education reform and global engagement; Lee Kump; Takeshi Kakegawa, professor of the Graduate School of Science and a Penn State alumnus; and Yoshitaka Kasukabe, professor emeritus and specially appointed professor (research) of the Global Learning Center. Credit: Yoshitaka Kasukabe. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tohoku University, one of Penn State's strategic partners, recently invited Lee Kump, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and professor of geosciences at Penn State, to visit the university in Sendai, Japan.

On Oct. 9 and 30, Kump met Tohoku's senior leaders, including Masahiro Yamaguchi, vice president for education reform and global engagement; Takeshi Kakegawa, professor of the Graduate School of Science and a Penn State alumnus; Yoshitaka Kasukabe, professor emeritus and specially appointed professor (research) of the Global Learning Center; and Yumiko Watanabe, specially appointed professor of the Global Learning Center and a Penn State alumna. They discussed numerous opportunities to grow Tohoku University’s International Research Excellence initiative with expanded engagement in research collaboration and education exchange with Penn State.

“Already one of the premier research universities in Japan, Tohoku is poised to take research excellence to the next level with a focus on international collaboration,” said Kump. “As a key partner in that effort, Penn State, its students and faculty, will benefit tremendously if we seize the opportunity.”

For decades, faculty champions from both universities have played a significant role in research collaborations. However, the partnership remained as individual faculty-to-faculty linkages before 2022. In efforts to facilitate university-wide, institutional partnership between Penn State and Tohoku University, Anna Marshall, associate director for Asia partnerships at Penn State Global, and Kasukabe met regularly at national and international conferences since 2022. With a commitment to a long-term, multi-dimensional partnership, they have strategized to expand collaborations.

Moving forward, Kevin Furlong, professor of geosciences, and Kakegawa said they plan to create a joint Tohoku-Penn State graduate course. Based on strategic goals and student interests, the initial topic for this course will focus on aspects of disaster science. The course will be taught in a hybrid mode, involving both synchronous and asynchronous remote-education components, plus one or more in-person, co-located activities. Furthermore, two universities consider running a virtual joint exploratory research symposium to foster collaborations at the post-graduate and faculty levels.

“We are grateful to many faculty and alumni for championing our on-going collaborations,” says Marshall. “Now with Tohoku’s new designation as the recipient of the remarkable ‘University for International Research Excellence’ award in Japan, our partnership enters an exciting chapter. We are deepening our research and education collaborations towards common goals of solving global problems and making positive impacts on both local and global communities.”

Lee Kump, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State, speaks at a scientific seminar to the Earth Sciences Department at Tohoku University, Japan, during his visit in October 2024. Credit: Yoshitaka Kasukabe. All Rights Reserved.

On Nov. 8, Tohoku University received news from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan that it has been officially accredited as the “University for International Research Excellence.” As the first university to receive this recognition in Japan, Tohoku will lead the research capabilities of the entire country, aiming to become a research university of the world's highest standard. To foster Tohoku’s research capabilities to the world’s top level, the government will provide a 10 trillion yen (approximately $64 billion) national university fund for up to 25 years starting in 2024. Following its official designation, Tohoku University is expected to receive an initial grant of 10 billion yen (approximately $64 million) by the end of the fiscal year 2024.

“I am thrilled to hear about Tohoku University winning this exceptional award,” said Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost for Penn State Global. “As I congratulate it on this extraordinary achievement, I envision the long-term collaboration between Penn State and Tohoku University will bring innovative solutions and impactful outcomes for years to come.”

Nano Terasu, the next-generation synchrotron radiation facility that is currently being built at the new extension of Tohoku’s Aobayama campus. Credit: Nathaniel Ulrich / Penn State. Creative Commons

For more information on the partnership, contact Marshall at awm15@psu.edu

About Tohoku University

Established in 1907 as the third imperial university in Sendai, Japan, Tohoku University was founded to foster academic and scientific pursuits in the northeastern part of Japan. The university is committed to the “Research First” principle, “Open-Door” policy and “Practice-oriented Research and Education" since its foundation. Resides in an area known for its innovative ecosystem, the Sendai region has been at the forefront of technological advancements, and the university plays a key role in driving innovation and entrepreneurship. The Japanese Edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings listed Tohoku University as No. 1 in the country for four consecutive years.

Last Updated December 3, 2024