GJO Established at National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia)

February 8, 2018

On Wednesday the 22 ^nd of November, a Global Japan Office (GJO) was established at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, Russia. An opening ceremony for this office was held on the same day.
The opening ceremony was attended by TUFS members including Vice President Kayoko Hayashi, Professor Kyoko Numano (Institute of Global Studies, Russian literature, Russian culture), Professor Yoshikazu Suzuki (currently residing in Moscow on sabbatical), and specially-appointed professor Shigeru Arai (leading member of the Inter-University Exchange Project (Russia)). HSE attendees included head of the Office for International Cooperation, Ms. Marina Batalina, Associate Professor Mr. Andrey Fesyun (Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs), Associate Professor Ms. Uliana Strizhak (Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs), the HSE GJO Coordinator, Ms. Sofiia Pasivkina, and the student representative, Ms. Maria Ponomaryova (Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, Japan Studies).
At the opening ceremony, Vice President Hayashi expressed her feelings of gratitude towards the establishment of the TUFS GJO at HSE, after which Ms. Batalina spoke and expressed her hopes for cooperative education and research between TUFS and HSE. At the post-ceremony gathering, it was confirmed that relations between TUFS and HSE could be deepened through the Joint Education Program and the Short Stay Program (planned for summer 2018). There was also talk on the possibility of establishing an HSE Office inside of TUFS.
Finally, the celebration moved to the Japan Studies office, the site of the new GJO, and the office sign was hung at its entrance. In addition to promoting the popularization of Japanese language and culture, this GJO will also operate as an internship hub for TUFS students and students from TUFS' six partner institutions in Russia.