On March 30, 2026, an unveiling ceremony for the University of Idaho Hiroshima Campus signboard was held at the University Hall on the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus of Hiroshima University. This campus will serve as the base for the undergraduate program Microchips Engineering & Security Alliance (MESA), which aims to cultivate global talent in the semiconductor field.
Approximately 100 attendees, including representatives from the University of Idaho, supporters of its students, as well as faculty, staff, and students from Hiroshima University, gathered to celebrate the launch of this new chapter in Japan–U.S. higher education collaboration.

During the ceremony, Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi highlighted that this collaboration has developed under a strong relationship of trust between the two university presidents, driven by a shared commitment to “creating the future together.”
This was followed by remarks from University of Idaho President Scott Green, who expressed his expectations for the partnership with Hiroshima University. He emphasized the educational and cultural value of students from both institutions learning together, and noted that this campus would serve as a symbol of forward-looking Japan–U.S. collaboration.

Prior to the unveiling ceremony, President Ochi gave a presentation at MIRAI CREA, providing an overview of the MESA program and outlining future prospects for collaboration between the two universities. Furthermore, during the luncheon after the ceremony, nine Hiroshima University students who visited the University of Idaho last summer through the START program, along with University of Idaho alumni living in Hiroshima and representatives from both universities, engaged in lively interaction. A slideshow featuring scenes from the students’ visit was also shown, encouraging conversation and further deepening connections among the participants.
In addition, the students led the visitors from Idaho on a campus tour. Participants walked through the campus as it welcomed the spring season, experiencing its atmosphere and scenery together, and enjoying a warm and friendly environment throughout the visit.
 

The unveiling ceremony of the signboard was held as a symbolic occasion marking the beginning of concrete educational collaboration and student exchange between the two universities. This partnership represents an important step toward fostering talent beyond specific fields and realizing a new model of university education grounded in international engagement.

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