CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign extended its strategic partnership with Kyushu University by renewing the memorandum of understanding between the two institutions.
Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones, Prof. Reitumetse Mabokela, Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Global Affairs & Strategies at Illinois, and Kyushu University President Tatsuro Ishibashi confirmed the commitment to this strategic partnership when they signed the MOU on November 20, 2024.
Kyushu University, located in Fukuoka, Japan, has been one of Illinois’ most important partners in carbon-neutral energy research.
Since 2010, both institutions have been closely collaborating in the field of energy and environmental research. This effort has been led by the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER), based at Kyushu University, alongside a satellite institute established at the Urbana-Champaign campus in 2012.
The strategic partnership was signed in 2019 and now again in 2024.
Carbon-neutral energy research was just the beginning for this partnership, however. Collaborative research has expanded to more diverse areas including data science and data management, environmental economics, humanities, library science, and smart grid and sustainable energy. Projects in these areas were fueled by a joint seed fund.
Additionally, the talent exchange of students and staff has enhanced the partnership scope.
Collaboration Center
Kyushu University and Illinois furthered their collaboration earlier this year by joining together with National Taiwan University (NTU) to establish what all three institutions call a “Tri-Uni International Collaboration Center.”
This virtual center is supported by matching funds from each institution to support teaching and learning, research, and innovation.
The vision for the center is to connect all three universities through academic and research endeavors year-round, thus promising a future committed to providing successful joint initiatives that are expected to shape the ever-changing global landscape. It also secures a solid tri-lateral, symbiotic partnership between each university for years to come.
Delegates from NTU and delegates from Kyushu celebrated the launch of the center alongside Illinois colleagues during a luncheon on Nov. 20 at the Illini Union.
For more information on the partnership with Kyushu University visit: https://globalrelations.illinois.edu/strategic-partnerships/kyushu-university/. ;
For more information on the partnership with NTU visit: https://globalrelations.illinois.edu/strategic-partnerships/national-taiwan-university/. ;
For more information on the Tri-Uni International Collaboration Center visit: https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/6758/1676989103. ;
Analicia Haynes is the storyteller and social media specialist for Illinois International and can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.