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Communique of the Sendai Executive Forum on Inter-University Exchange

On August 20 and 21, 2000, the Sendai Executive Forum on Inter-University Exchange hosted by Tohoku University was convened in Sendai as part of the "International Symposium on Research and Education in the 21st Century: The Role of Inter-University Academic and Student Exchange." Special issue sessions were held to discuss the organization of global networks among universities, regional exchange, policies for the promotion of international and regional collaborative research, and the problems and possibilities raised by the expanding temporal and spatial scope of research and education. In addition, panel discussions were held and a keynote address was delivered on "The Future of Advanced Research and Higher Education: The Role of Inter-University Exchange." Through these special issue sessions and panel discussions, we the participants in the Sendai Executive Forum on Inter-University Exchange have found ourselves in agreement on the following points, and therefore hereby proclaim the following Communique of the Sendai Executive Forum on Inter-University Exchange.

Organization of Global Networks among Universities

1. We will explore the strengthening of cooperation between universities and research institutes through cooperative inter-university organizations that are closely linked with local culture and industry. Furthermore, by pursuing organic linkages between such local cooperative organizations and their member universities into regional and disciplinary alliances (international consortia), we aim to organize global research networks with measures that guarantee their effective implementation.
2. We will strive for effective implementation of international exchange agreements and systems for student exchange between universities and research institutes, and we will actively promote international exchange of students and researchers. Moreover, we will explore the possibilities for strengthening and expanding the various facilities and programs in Japan for both receiving and sending abroad international exchange students.
3. Through the cooperation of responsible organizations comprised of universities and other research institutes, we will organize global community networks that will make possible the exchange of outstanding faculty and researchers, and we will begin to explore the establishment of a new, more efficient structure for exchanging and securing talented human resources.

Policies for Promoting International Collaborative Research

4. In the face of the difficult problems confronting contemporary societies, we pledge to contribute to building a global society that enjoys lasting and sustainable development by actively promoting interdisciplinary and international collaborative research that is based on a global perspective of mutual cooperation, transcending the interests of any specific region.
5. We propose the designation of international COE (Center of Excellence) research organizations in each region to act as centers for the various disciplinary fields, as well as the creation of collaborative research networks that will link together the various regional COE's. In particular, we will explore the creation of core research organizations in fields related to environmental, energy, and food issues, as well as to problems related to an aging society.

The Structure of Advanced Research and Higher Education in the 21st Century

6. Continued rapid development of information technology (IT) is expected in the 21st century. We will work to promote the further expansion in universities and research institutes of these cutting edge technologies, and we will explore the creation of global research structures and educational systems in step with the progress in information technology.
7. Together with the development of information technology, we see the expansion of both the temporal and spatial scope of education, including the rise of international long-distance education (e.g., cyber university), lifelong education, and increased access for those with special needs. We will explore the expansion of facilities capable of responding to these developments as one part of a university's function, and we will work to expand these systems to a global scale.