- Name:German-Japanese University Alliance
HeKKSaGOn:Heidelberg, Kyoto, Karlsruhe, Tohoku (in Sendai), Göttingen, Osaka – network - Established in:2010
- Member Institutions: 6 Universities from Japan and Germany
(Germany) Heidelberg University, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), University of Göttingen
(Japan) Tohoku University, Kyoto University, Osaka University - Website:https://www.hekksagon.net
The Japanese-German University Consortium HeKKSaGOn founded in 2010 is a bilateral university network composed of three Japanese and three German major universities with the aim to promote exchange between Japan and Germany through activities such as research staff/student exchange, joint research, workshops and summer schools.
Priority Areas
At the Presidents’ Conference in Heidelberg in 2019, the following four areas were identified as priority areas and will be given special focus:
1. Transcultural studies and the transformation of cultural heritage
2. Data science, digitization, and artificial intelligence
3. Health, well-being, safe and resilient societies
4. Engineering molecular systems and bioimaging
Working Group Projects
The following eight projects have been selected as HeKKSaGOn working group projects and are being funded by the member universities to which they belong. (Period: October 2020 – September 2023)
| プロジェクト題目 | Lead Coordinator | Coordinator at Tohoku University | Priority Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next-Generation Biomedical Sciences - Fusion of Molecular Engineering, Imaging, and Modeling | Prof. Motomu Tanaka (Heidelberg U) | Prof. Hiroshi Suito (AIMR) | 2,4 |
| Quantum Innovation by Interdisciplinary Medical Research | Prof. Takashi Nakano (Osaka U) | Prof. Kei Takase (GS Medicine) | 3 |
| Mineral and energy resource systems for resilient, sustainable societies | Prof. Kazuyo Matsubae (Tohoku U) | PRof. Kazuyo Matsubae (GS Environmental Studies) | 3 |
| Robotics for Health, Well-being, Safe and Resilient Societies | Prof. Kazuya Yoshida (Tohoku U) | Prof. Kazuya Yoshida (GS Engineering | 3 |
| HeKKSaGOn Conference and Summer School: “The Digital World: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics | Prof. Ramin Yahyapour (U Göttingen) | Prof. Mitsuyuki Nakao (GS Information Science) | 2 |
| Mathematics at the Interface of Science and Technology | Prof. Wilderich Tuschmann (KIT） | Prof. Shioya Takashi (GS Sciences) | 2,3,4 |
| Asian and Transcultural Studies: The Next Generation | Prof. Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano (Kyoto U) | Prof. Koji Ono (GS Arts and Literature) | 1 |
| Recreating Global History from Asian Perspectives: The Twentieth-Century World in Turmoil | Prof. Shigeru Akita (Osaka U) | Prof. Hiroaki Adachi (GS Arts and Literature) | 1 |
Activities
HeKKSaGOn Presidential Conferences, Research Collaboration through Working Groups and Seasonal Schools for students and early-career researchers. Tohoku University hosted the 8th HeKKSaGOn Presidential Conference on September 9-10, 2021.
HeKKSaGOn Presidential Conferences
| Period | Host | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | 2021.9.9-10 | Tohoku University | Details | Post-Conference Brochure |
| 7th | 2019.9.12-13 | Heidelberg University | Details | Post-Conference Brochure |
| 6th | 2018.4.12-13 | Osaka University | Details | |
| 5th | 2016.9.29-30 | KIT | Details | |
| 4th | 2015.4.16-17 | Tohoku University | Details | |
| 3rd | 2013.9.12-13 | University of Göttingen | ||
| 2nd | 2012.3.29-30 | Kyoto University | ||
| 1st | 2010.7.29-30 | Heidelberg University |
Experience story by a participant
I participated in an online students’ workshop held as part of the 8th HeKKSaGOn University Presidents’ Conference. Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented me from having many opportunities to discuss matters with students at other universities in Japan or with students at overseas universities. This workshop was therefore a great intercultural collaborative learning opportunity for me. The main topic of the workshop was “What kind of online international collaborative education do students want at universities in the New Normal, looking beyond the university setting, disciplines, and geographical restrictions?” The workshop members worked together on a presentation about the topic for a month, with the aim of delivering it during the Plenary Session at the Presidents’ Conference. The members, who come from different cultural backgrounds and have different values, gave their opinions on the topic, and we carefully assessed the upsides and downsides of the online leaning courses we have experienced over the last two years. It was challenging for us to work closely together and to adjust our schedules to accommodate members who live in different time zones. However, when we completed our final presentation at the Presidents’ Conference, we felt that we had formed a strong relationship and had gained in confidence. I will take advantage of the experience of participating in this workshop to continue to pursue other opportunities for internationally connected learning.
(Misai Shoji, School of Economics)
Contacts
Global Engagement Division
TEL: +81-22-217-5578/6182
Email：kokusai-k
grp.tohoku.ac.jp