Dr. Naoshi Sugiyama, president of Nagoya University, paid a courtesy call to Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko at the Ambassador's Residence on 10 October.

Together with Sugiyama were Dr. Akira Yamauchi, director of Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, the Deans and other officials of Nagoya University and the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute in UPLB along with the four new Filipino doctorate scholars of the Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals.

Ambassador Koshikawa, who congratulated the students on their admission, also shared his good wishes and gratitude as they pursued higher education at the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campus.

The courtesy call is a significant follow-up to two pivotal events — the entrance ceremony welcoming four new Filipino scholars into the esteemed program; and the signing ceremony marking for the expansion of the program with the new Graduate Schools of Engineering and Environmental Sciences.

On 9 October, Sugiyama and Atty. Angelo Jimenez, president of the University of the Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Understating for the expansion of the Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries with the addition of the new Graduate Schools of Engineering and Environmental Sciences.

The entrance ceremony for the new Filipino students were held at the SEARCA Umali Auditorium, UPLB. The ceremony was graced by UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr., president of Nagoya University, and Dr. Akira Yamauchi, director of Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, Japan. Dr. Josette Biyo, director of the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and Japan Information and Culture Center Director Shigehiro Matsuda.

In his address, Matsuda celebrated the valuable partnership between Nagoya University and UPLB. He hopes for the success of this collaboration as it continues to provide public officers with opportunities to deepen their knowledge in the fields of International Development and Bio-Agricultural Sciences.