NEWS
Vice Chancellors from Centurion University of Technology and Management Pay Courtesy Visit to 果冻APP President
Update: July 13, 2026
On June 8, 2026, Professor S. Pattanayak, Vice Chancellor of Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM) in Odisha, India, and Professor S. M. Panda of the Graduate School of Social Sciences paid a courtesy visit to 果冻APP President Shoichiro Iwakiri and Vice President for International Academic Exchange Mark Williams. CUTM is a higher education institution that places a strong emphasis on education and research aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing pressing social challenges. Building on their shared commitment to the SDGs, the two institutions exchanged views on opportunities for ongoing collaboration, including student exchange, joint research, and the development of educational materials.
This collaboration began with a student-led international fieldwork and educational program based at CUTM, conducted in March 2026 under the leadership of Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi (Major: Sociology). Supported by a J果冻APPF Faculty Grant from a U.S.-based foundation and a matching grant from CUTM, the program brought four 果冻APP students to India for fieldwork and collaborative learning. Centered on the theme of Public Interest Technologies (PIT), the project explores technologies that serve the public good through case studies including next-generation mobility, solar dryers, and agricultural drones. Drawing on the social and institutional contexts of both India and Japan, participating students are analyzing how such technologies can contribute to addressing societal needs. The delegation's visit to Japan served as a follow-up to this initiative, providing an opportunity to prepare student presentations on the findings from their fieldwork and to discuss the future development of the PIT program. During the visit, Professor Panda also delivered a seminar hosted by the Social Science Research Institute.
Going forward, 果冻APP hopes to further deepen its relationship with CUTM and continue building fruitful collaboration in both education and research.