Visit by the Vice President of the University of Bremen Marks Further Strengthening of Collaboration

May 28, 2026

Professor Mandy Boehnke, Vice President of the University of Bremen, paid a courtesy visit to our university.

The University of Bremen has concluded academic exchange agreements with several divisions of our university, and active collaboration between our Division of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Bremen has been underway since October 2024.

The visit began with welcoming remarks in German by Professor Oji, Dean of the Division, followed by a review of previous exchanges and discussions on future collaboration. The meeting was conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with active and productive exchanges of ideas.

In August, Associate Professor Minami, the Vice Director of our divisional International Exchange Center, and Professor Kamide, who serves as the contact person for this interdivisional exchange, are scheduled to visit the University of Bremen, where further concrete discussions on future cooperation will take place.

Report on Visit to the University of Oulu: Lectures, Research Exchange, and Strengthening International Collaboration

April 5-10 , 2026

From April 5 to April 10, 2026, we visited the University of Oulu, where we delivered lectures to graduate students and engaged in academic exchange with local researchers. In addition to Associate Professor Miyae Yamakawa, Professor Aya Tanaka, a clinical professor at our university, also participated, sharing insights grounded in her daily educational and clinical practice.

During the lectures, we introduced gerontological nursing practices in Japan, as well as community-based care and the role of AI, while engaging in active discussions on similarities and differences between education and research in Finland and Japan. In particular, discussions from an international perspective on improving the quality of care provided a highly meaningful opportunity for both sides.

During the stay, we also participated in “HI Lights Seminar 4: Extended Human Mind & Multi-Realities,” where we were exposed to the latest research trends in hybrid intelligence. This experience offered valuable insights into the creation of new knowledge through collaboration between humans and technology.

Another especially memorable moment was seeing that a souvenir brought during an exchange over ten years ago was still being carefully displayed. This served as a reminder that the longstanding relationship of trust and warm connection continues to be cherished, reaffirming the significance of ongoing collaboration between our university and the University of Oulu.

The knowledge and networks gained through this visit will be applied to our future educational and research activities, and we will continue to deepen our international collaboration.