On Friday, March 14, 2025, Ehime University held a symposium entitled “International Joint Meeting of Young Researchers for Future Research Collaboration (iCollab)” in the Common Lecture Building C on the Johoku Campus. Approximately 130 people participated in the symposium, including faculty members and students from our university and international partner institutions.
This symposium was organized collaboratively by the Institute for Research, Innovation and Collaboration (IRIC), the Institute for International Relations (IIR), and the Institute for Education and Student Support (IESS), with the aim of providing young researchers with opportunities to present their research in an international conference setting on campus, exploring the potential for international joint research, and fostering sustainable research networks. The entire symposium was conducted in English.
The symposium began with opening remarks from Prof. Mitsuda Noriaki, Director of the IRIC. This was followed by plenary speeches by Prof. Greg T. Pawilen of the University of the Philippines Los Ba?os and Prof. David Weissbrodt of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, both of whom were invited from our university’s international partner institutions. The two professors shared valuable insights on case studies and key success factors based on their experiences in international joint research. A keynote speech was also delivered by Mr. Dave Arthur Roland Robledo, a student in our university’s EU SPRING* program. In his speech, he presented his hands-on research, which was followed by an active Q&A session.
In the afternoon, 35 young researchers were divided into three sessions and delivered invited speeches. Participants listened attentively to the presentations across a wide range of fields and deepened mutual exchange through active discussions.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Mitsunobu Kazuhiro, Director of IIR.
Following the symposium, a networking reception was held. During the reception, 9 presenters were recognized for their outstanding presentations and were awarded the Best Presentation Award.
Recipients of the Best Presentation Award (in no particular order, titles omitted)
Ayukawa Yu, Takamatsu Sakura, Hatakeyama Yuto, Ohnishi Motoya, Zalfa Maulida Ihsani, Mella Sarah Elmania, Ono Kohei, Matsuda Kohei, Kyle Young Low
※EU SPRING (Ehime University Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation) is a program that provides financial support and educational assistance, including career development and training content, to outstanding doctoral students at Ehime University, enabling them to devote themselves to free and challenging research.
＜Institute for Research, Innovation and Collaboration, Institute for International Relations, Institute for Education and Student Support>