On July 28, 2026, Saga University welcomed President Lee Ki-jeong of Hanyang University, South Korea, and his delegation for a joint meeting with representatives from Takeo Asia University, Saga Women’s Junior College, and Saga Prefecture. Organized under the leadership of Masaharu Imamura, President of Saga Women’s Junior College, the meeting was held to explore new opportunities for collaboration linking Saga with the wider global community.

Hanyang University is one of South Korea’s leading private comprehensive universities, with campuses in Seoul and Ansan and approximately 38,000 students. Renowned for its strengths in engineering, the university ranked third overall in the 2025 JoongAng Ilbo University Evaluation and was placed sixth globally in the THE Impact Rankings 2026, which assess universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university is also known for its strong industry-academia collaboration and international outlook, welcoming approximately 8,000 international students.

The meeting was attended by President Lee Ki-jeong and Kim Han-sung, Director of International Affairs at Hanyang University; President Koichi Node and Vice President Maiko Sakamoto of Saga University; President Yuki Konagaya of Takeo Asia University; President Masaharu Imamura of Saga Women’s Junior College; and Toshikuni Hino, Deputy Director-General, Policy Department.

The meeting followed the signing of comprehensive partnership agreements on July 27 between Hanyang University and both Takeo Asia University and Saga Women’s Junior College. Building on this momentum, participants exchanged views on the potential for international collaboration and talent development across the higher education sector in Saga Prefecture.

Speaking not only as President of Hanyang University but also as Chair of Korean Council for University Education, President Lee offered a broad perspective on the role of higher education in addressing challenges shared by Japan and South Korea, including declining birthrates and regional revitalization. He also highlighted growing interest among young people in South Korea in regional cities and emphasized the importance of developing practical exchange programs that enable students from both countries to interact directly and learn from one another.

President Lee’s vision for the sustainable development of higher education and expanded international cooperation resonated strongly with the participants. The discussion then turned to concrete opportunities for collaboration. President Koichi Node highlighted the potential for joint research and educational programs between Saga University’s School of Cosmetic Science and Hanyang University’s strengths in biocosmetics, as well as opportunities for cooperation in medical sciences. The participants engaged in a positive exchange of views on a wide range of innovative and multidisciplinary initiatives.

As a tangible outcome of the meeting, Saga University and Hanyang University agreed to promptly begin working-level discussions toward concluding an inter-university academic exchange agreement. These discussions will be led by Vice President Maiko Sakamoto of Saga University and Kim Han-sung, Director of International Affairs at Hanyang University.

Saga University will continue to work closely with Hanyang University, other higher education institutions, and local governments in Saga Prefecture to accelerate global collaboration across research, education, and industry. Through these efforts, the University aims to contribute to the sustainable development of both countries while creating new opportunities for students, researchers, and local communities.

【Contact】
　　 Office for International Planning, Saga University  (Yada, Kitajima)
　　　　TEL: 0952-28-8166　　 Email:  kokusai@mail.admin.saga-u.ac.jp