Durham University Pro-Vice‑Chancellor (Global) visited Kyushu University

Kyushu University welcomed Professor Claire O’Malley, Pro-Vice‑Chancellor (Global) of Durham University, on May 27, 2026, at its Ito Campus. The visit provided an important opportunity for both universities to further strengthen their partnership, built on long-standing collaboration through the RENKEI: the UK-Japan partnership of research-intensive leading universities, as well as their bilateral agreement.

Throughout the visit, researchers and senior leadership from both universities engaged in a series of activities, including a campus tour, a roundtable session highlighting ongoing collaborations, and strategic discussions on future cooperation. These engagements enabled both sides to reflect on achievements to date while exploring new avenues for collaboration.

Prior to this visit, on May 14, Professor Jonathan Heddle, Director of the Centre for Programmable Biological Matter (CPBM) at Durham University, also visited Kyushu University to further strengthen researcher-level connections. During his visit, Professor Heddle met with faculty members across Ito and Hospital Campuses, engaging in discussions with researchers across multiple disciplines: Professor Takeshi Mori, Professor Noriho Kamiya, Professor Ryo Kubota (Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering), Professor Shigehiro Yoshimura (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science), and Professor Kenji Inaba (Department of Molecular and Structural Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation). These exchanges explored new interdisciplinary opportunities and helped expand collaborative networks between the two institutions.

Such ongoing efforts to actively foster researcher-to-researcher engagement at both universities have played a key role in strengthening mutual ties, providing a strong foundation for the university-level dialogue achieved during Professor O’Malley’s visit.

From individual collaborations to institutional partnerships

A central component of the visit was the roundtable session entitled “From Individual Collaborations to Institutional Partnerships.” The session brought together researchers from Kyushu University who have established collaborative links with colleagues at Durham University, highlighting the diversity and depth of existing partnerships.

Five faculty members representing diverse disciplines shared their experiences of collaboration with Durham counterparts. They discussed how their partnerships began, the current stage of their work, and their perspectives on future development. The speakers were: Associate Professor Tomoaki Nakaishi (Faculty of Economics), Associate Professor Naoto Yamashita (Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering [ISEE]), Associate Professor Kim Schumacher (Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies [Q-AOS]), Associate Professor Ken Albrecht (Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering [IMCE]), and Professor Johan Lauwereyns (Faculty of Arts and Science).

The session also provided a platform for both universities to consider how organically developed, researcher-led collaborations can be supported and expanded into sustainable institutional partnerships. Discussions emphasized the importance of maintaining academic autonomy while enabling greater connectivity and strategic alignment across institutions.

In addition, a networking lunch held before the session brought together a broader group of researchers collaborating with Durham University. The event not only highlighted existing links between the two universities but also fostered new interdisciplinary connections within Kyushu University itself, further strengthening the collaborative ecosystem.

Strategic dialogue with university leadership

Following the roundtable session, senior representatives from both universities convened for strategic discussions on the future direction of the partnership. The dialogue focused on building upon existing collaborations and identifying opportunities to deepen cooperation at the institutional level. Participants from Kyushu University included Jun Tanimoto, Executive Vice President for Research; Kenji Iwata, Executive Vice President for International Affairs; Aya Hagishima, Senior Vice President for Research; and Natalie Konomi, Vice President for International Affairs.

As part of the visit, Professor O’Malley also toured the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI‑I²CNER), one of Kyushu University’s flagship research centers. This visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on potential collaboration in key research areas and to explore possibilities for joint initiatives in globally significant fields.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Kyushu University and Durham University to strengthening their partnership through a combination of grassroots researcher collaboration and strategic institutional engagement. Both universities will continue to build on their strong foundation of collaboration, working together to address global challenges through innovation and partnership.