The 3rd Japan-Mexico Rectors’ Summit
"Collaboration for Innovation: Academy, Industry and Government Working Together"
Joint Statement

On November 30th and December 1st, 2017, the 3rd Japan-Mexico Rectors’ Summit was hosted by Hiroshima University and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) to discuss and share good practices related to “Collaboration for Innovation: Academy, Industry and Government Working Together”.

Historically, this important Summit has allowed both Mexican and Japanese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to discuss significant issues and design creative policies to ensure capacity building and best practices. At the 1st Rectors’ Summit, held in Tokyo in June 2011, HEIs of both countries discussed the most effective actions to foster cooperation between knowledge societies and to promote education, science and innovation, assuring the continuous exchange of views on issues of common interest. After that, in October 2014, during the Japan･Mexico Friendship Year, the 2nd Rectors’ Summit was held in Guanajuato and Aguascalientes. Participants discussed how to incorporate scientific and academic cooperation and innovation to the development of human resources with global skills and interculturalism.

For the 3rd Rectors’ Summit, Hiroshima was the perfect setting, as the city has growing ties to Mexico. The Hiroshima Prefecture is a sister city to Guanajuato, one of the host cities of the 2nd Rectors’ Summit. In addition, some of the automotive manufacturers and vehicle component suppliers based in the Hiroshima Prefecture are now opening offices in Mexico, showing the strong economic relations between the two regions. Furthermore, for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Mexican team has decided to establish a pre-game training camp in the Hiroshima Prefecture.

The rationale behind the 3rd Rectors’ Summit theme, “Collaboration for Innovation: Academy, Industry and Government Working Together”, includes the following key topics:

• How innovation contributes to improving people’s everyday living conditions, as well as achieving sustainable development, solving major problems of modern society, and building a peaceful society.
• How innovation is a key factor for the revitalization of industries in both Mexico and Japan.
• How the importance of international academy, industry and government collaboration is increasing as companies are advancing overseas.
• How the expectations for the role of HEIs are increasing and how activities such as student and research exchanges between the two countries are contributing to the deepening of knowledge through collaborative research and innovation, resulting in the highly qualified training of human resources demanded by companies.

This year’s theme is well-timed as HEIs of both countries have a growing interest in collaborating with governments and companies in new and innovative schemes of cooperation. 

This time around, in awareness of the importance of exchange between the two countries, we made presentations and shared positive examples on active efforts made by universities in Japan and Mexico setting up the following three breakout sessions:  “Triple Helix Collaboration (Academy-Industry-Government Collaboration)”, “Collaboration in Research” and “Student Exchange as a Basis of the Collaboration”.

During the Summit, several presenters shared stories about their efforts to foster educational exchange at the Inter-University Exchange Project (supported by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) taking advantage of the networks that were built in the previous Rectors’ Summit. Regarding “Collaboration in Research” and “Triple Helix Collaboration”, universities from both countries have been carrying out joint initiatives demonstrating that our collaboration has been steadily expanding. In addition, a keynote speaker from a private corporation  represented industry’s expectations for the development of qualified human resources and the enhancement of triple helix collaboration with universities in both countries.

On the second day of the Summit, continuing the previous day’s discussion, participants exchanged ideas on how to further deepen and foster inter-university exchange between Japan and Mexico. During the discussion, institutions highlighted the importance of fostering human resources through exchange programs that allow the participants to deepen their cultural and linguistic understanding, as well as organizing internship programs for students. In this sense, all participants agreed that it is necessary to facilitate information sharing among enterprises, universities and governments of both countries and enhance the scope and effectiveness of such networks, demanding substantial government support.

On scientific cooperation
Participants recognized the need to build stronger ties within Mexican institutions that develop scientific research projects with Japan. 

On triple helix collaboration and the formation of human resources with global skills
Participants recognized that collaboration between academy and industry is a strategic tool to develop global and intercultural skills in both students and faculty members, in order to train a workforce with an international profile.

Key areas of collaboration were identified: engineering and technology, renewable energy, water, agriculture, medicine, economics, seismic security and administrative sciences.

On academic cooperation
Participants identified the need to strengthen bachelor degrees in Mexico, through the offering of Japanese courses as part of their academic programs. They also recognized the need to strengthen graduate programs, through the incorporation of lines of research regarding Japanese studies, in order to have both countries closer.

Within the framework of the Mexican context and taking into account the expertise of Japan, the Mexican delegates identified as a priority the creation of graduate programs specialized in the management of environmental risks and disasters, which would include both countries’ experiences. 

On academic exchange
Participants celebrated the intensity of student exchanges between both countries and agreed to promote wider academic mobility that includes not only students, but also faculty members from both countries, in order to develop joint projects.

On interculturalism and multidisciplinarity
Participants acknowledged the importance of innovation models that encompass art, history, culture, languages, law and more.

During this Rectors’ Summit, we made considerable achievements in terms of inter-university exchange between Japan and Mexico as our platforms have almost been completed. Our future task is to expand the volume of exchange between the two countries considering the needs of both societies. In order to achieve this goal, we agreed to continue holding this Rectors’ Summit, as establishing active inter-university partnerships, and also agreed to request further supports from governments, autonomous communities, funding agencies and private companies for the universities with their ambitious efforts.

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the personnel from the Mexican Embassy in Japan, as well as to all other personnel and organizations who have helped the organization of this Summit.