On October 10, 2025, the 2025 Edward Boyle Memorial Lecture* entitled ‘The importance of global partnerships in higher education – Case studies from the RENKEI Network’ was held at Ritsumeikan University’s Osaka Ibaraki Campus.
This event, aimed at strengthening global partnerships for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, was hosted by the University of Leeds, the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), and the Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives (RENKEI).
First, Prof. Rob Sturman (University of Leeds, Pro Dean International, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences)
delivered a lecture about Sir Edward Boyle’s accomplishments and gave an overview of RENKEI. This was followed by a panel discussion on the importance of international collaboration in higher education, research, and innovative fields, with RENKEI panelists Prof. Hannah Brown (Prof. of Anthropology, Durham University, Visiting Fellow at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto), Prof. Marion Hetherington (Professor Emerita in Biopsychology, University of Leeds), Prof. Motohiro Tsuchiya (Keio University Vice President for Global Engagement), and from Tohoku University, Executive Vice President Prof. Toshiya Ueki.
During his talk, EVP Ueki cited the examples of the ‘Choshu Five’, five samurai noblemen of the Choshu Domain who traveled to the UK to study in the mid-1800’s, and the present-day use of Japanese rail technology in the UK, to illustrate the two nations’ history of cooperation and their potential for developing early-career researcher exchange and research collaboration even further. A lively discussion about the value of international collaboration and the importance of experiencing different cultures and values brought the event to a successful close.
*The Edward Boyle Memorial Lecture is a lecture series named in honor of Sir Edward Boyle (Baron Boyle of Handsworth), who served in key positions in the UK government from the 1940s to the 1970s and as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds for over 10 years. The Edward Boyle Memorial Trust, dedicated to the advancement of education, learning, and music, is the parent organization.
Group photo (left to right): EVP Ueki, Prof. Sturman, Prof. Brown, Prof. Hetherington, Prof. Tsuchiya, and Kyushu University VP Natalie Konomi
EVP Ueki speaking
Contact:
Global Engagement Division, Tohoku University
Email: kokusai-k@grp.tohoku.ac.jp