The External Evaluation Committee Meeting for FY2014 of Phoenix Leader Education Program（Hiroshima Initiative）for Renaissance from Radiation Disaster was held in Hiroshima City on February 14, 2015.

Of the nine members who made up the committee, eight of them were involved last year. The domestic Japanese participants included Mr. Shibata Tokushi (Managing Director, Japan Radioisotope Association (JRIA)), Mr. Shigenobu Nagataki (Director, Radiation Effects Association), Mr. Kiyoshi Miyagawa (Professor at Graduate School of Medicine of Tokyo University), and Mr. Takashi Yamashita (Chairman of Chugoku Economic Federation). 　The members from overseas included Dr. Albert Lee Wiley (Director at Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), Oakridge), Dr. Jacques Lochard (Vice-Chair of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and Director at the Centre d'�tude sur l'�valuation de la protection dans le domaine nucl�aire (CEPN)), Dr. Rethy K. Chhem (Executive Director of Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)), and Dr. Tom K. Hei (Professor and Vice Chairman of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center). The new member who joined the committee was Dr. May Abdel-Wahab (Director of the Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)).

　After the opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Tetsuji Okamoto (Program Director), Dr. Kenji Kamiya (Program Coordinator) introduced a detailed overview of the wide range of program activities from the past year, and also explained the current level of progress and status regarding suggestions made last year by the external evaluation committee FY2013 (they based their recommendations on nine evaluation criteria). 　From this year (FY2014) in order to gain insight from a student perspective, three students from the program attended the External Evaluation Committee on behalf of the students. 　It was an effective opportunity for the students’ to share their actual opinions directly with the members of the committee.

　The committee members actively discussed all aspects of the program and exchanged their opinions on the achievement of final program goals such as how best to nurture global leaders. 　Particularly important now that the program has reached its half way point. 　The program received a very positive evaluation from all committee members who stated their desire to see financial support for the program continued beyond the duration of direct MEXT financial support. 　Ultimately, the value and significance of the program and its activities were strongly acknowledged by the committee. 　We will continuously improve the program based on the opinions from the Committee in order to nurture the Phoenix Leaders who contribute to the recovery from radiation disaster.