JICE hosted “JDS Special Seminar on the Role of Government for Innovation and Development” in collaboration with International Christian University (ICU) at its Head Office in Shinjuku, Tokyo on May 31^st, 2019. This is the second event that JICE host as a series of JDS networking event. This time, Senior Associate Professor Nagy R. Stephen, International Christian University, the facilitator of the previous JDS workshop proposed the contents and invited the guest speaker. Twenty-eight JDS Fellows from eight universities participated in the seminar designed to help expand their academic knowledge in this trendy topic and human networks.

The seminar was kick-started with a lecture on the same subject featuring a case study in China by Associate Professor Zhang Zhang Yingying, International University of Japan followed by comments from Senior Associate Professor Nagy R. Stephen.

At the ensuing dialogue session, the participants from different countries raised many questions and comments. This testified that innovation was a most attractive topic for the future government leaders.

Following are some of the comments from the participants.

-“The lecture was very informative to me as a government employee. I was able to learn well about the policies of China which enabled its fast economic development.” (Nepal)

-“I would like to join this kind of knowledgeable seminar more.”（Myanmar）

At the end of the event, the professors and the participants enjoyed exchanging opinions and having conversation, which was a rare opportunity for the JDS Fellows to link up with fellows studying in other universities.

Looking forward, JICE will be committed to help JDS Fellows to build academic and human networks across university and country as well as to support their life in Japan.

Satomi KOBAYASHI

International Student Programs Division

International Student Programs Department I