On August 6, 2026, Saga University welcomed Dr. Sayakone Malaykham, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Letters at the National University of Laos (NUOL), one of Saga University’s academic exchange partners.

The two universities have maintained a close academic partnership for 16 years since signing an academic exchange agreement in January 2010. With the agreement scheduled to be renewed for another five years this October, the visit provided an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss concrete measures to promote international student enrollment and academic exchange.

The meeting, held in the President’s Office, was attended by Koichi Node, President of Saga University; Shigehisa Aoki, Executive Director for Research & Community Cooperation and International Affairs; Hirokazu Nakamura, Professor in the Faculty of Economics; Miho Fujimura, Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture; and Hiromi Yada, Head of the International Planning Office.

President Node noted that the National University of Laos is Saga University’s only partner institution in Laos and referred to the close ties between Japan and Laos, including those between their royal families. He expressed his strong commitment to promoting the enrollment of international students through this visit. Executive Director Aoki spoke about prospects for future academic collaboration. Professor Fujimura introduced the Faculty of Agriculture’s exchange activities to date and highlighted the potential for broader university-wide research collaboration in the future. Dr. Sayakone provided an overview of foreign language education in Laos, particularly Japanese language education. Professor Nakamura proposed measures to further strengthen the relationship between the two universities through initiatives such as online exchanges and short-term programs. Dr. Sayakone also spoke about Laos’s rapid economic growth and infrastructure development, particularly in the capital city of Vientiane, where large-scale urban development projects are progressing at a remarkable pace.

Associate Professor Tomo Higashide of the Center for International Exchange joined the subsequent luncheon meeting, where participants discussed Japanese language education in greater depth. Dr. Sayakone explained that demand for Japanese language education at the National University of Laos is extremely high, with approximately 500 students interested in studying Japanese despite an enrollment capacity of only 40 students. She also introduced recent curriculum reforms aimed at developing highly skilled professionals through the integration of business studies, economics, and international exchange. In response, Saga University introduced several of its international education initiatives, including the SPACE Program, which enables international students to take specialized courses in both English and Japanese.

Following the National University of Laos’s transition to a new organizational structure, both sides reaffirmed the importance of strengthening collaboration through continued high-level exchanges between the two institutions. The visit concluded with a productive exchange of views and a shared commitment to expanding future cooperation.

Later that day, Dr. Sayakone delivered a lecture entitled “The Economic Value of Intercultural Communication” at an international seminar hosted by the Faculty of Economics.

Saga University will continue to strengthen its partnership with the National University of Laos by promoting the enrollment of talented students from Laos and further expanding academic and research collaboration between the two institutions.

【Contact】
　　 Office for International Planning, Saga University
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