The Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), along with the Coordinator of the Nippon-Lanka Collaboration Centre (NLCC) at KDU, Dr. Hemantha Premarathne, visited JF Oberlin University (JFOU) in Japan from 23rd to 30th November 2024. Invited by the President of JFOU, this visit marked the first official meeting between the heads of the two institutions and represented a significant milestone in the academic collaboration initiated through an MOU signed in September 2022.

The visit provided an opportunity to evaluate the success of ongoing initiatives, strengthen institutional ties, and explore strategies for future academic cooperation. Key activities included formal meetings, campus tours, and cultural exchanges.

At the start of the week-long visit, the KDU delegation was warmly received by the Dean of the College of Business Management at JFOU Shinjuku Campus and students who had previously visited Sri Lanka. Discussions centered on their experiences and ways to enhance student exchange programs between the two universities.

On 26th November 2024, the Vice Chancellor of KDU met with the President, Vice President, Director of International Affairs, Deans, and other senior officials at JFOU main campus in Machida. During the meeting, Dr. Hemantha Premarathne delivered a presentation highlighting the evolution of the partnership between KDU and JFOU. He detailed how his collaboration with Prof. Hajime Tozaki since 2020 had led to the first joint initiatives, starting with a research grant application to the Eurasia Foundation in Japan.

Following this, the Vice Chancellor of KDU presented an overview of KDU’s development journey, emphasizing its growth into a leading university in Sri Lanka.

The President of JFOU and his team expressed satisfaction with the progress of the partnership and commended the commitment of both institutions to fostering global academic collaboration. They highlighted achievements such as faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and cultural programs, while also discussing plans for expanded cooperation, including more extensive student exchange programs and potential joint research projects.

The Vice Chancellor of KDU expressed heartfelt appreciation for JFOU’s warm hospitality and reiterated the importance of such visits in strengthening institutional partnerships. Both universities reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their collaboration in the years to come.

This successful visit was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Dr. Hemantha Premarathne, Coordinator of the NLCC, with the invaluable support of Prof. Hajime Tozaki and Mr. Nobuo Kanda from JFOU Shinjuku Campus. The visit was generously sponsored by JFOU, underscoring their commitment to fostering impactful academic partnerships.