13:00-14:00

Panel Discussion

"Recent International Student Mobility Trends and Policies"

＜Moderator＞

Hiroshi OTA | Hitotsubashi University, Japan 

- Biography -

Dr. Hiroshi Ota is a Professor at the Center for General Education at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, where he serves as Director of the Hitotsubashi University Global Education Program.

Prior to his current position, he worked for the Office for the Promotion of International Relations at Hitotsubashi University, the School of Commerce and Management as International Student Advisor at Hitotsubashi University, the Office of International Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Toyo University, Tokyo. His research primarily focuses on higher education policies and practices related to internationalization and international student mobility from a comparative perspective. From the State University of New York at Buffalo, Ota received his Ed.M. in 2001 and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education with a dual title in Comparative and Global Studies in Education in 2008. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study international education administration in the U.S. in 1996 and was invited by Harvard-Yenching Institute as a Visiting Scholar from 2023-24. 

＜Panelists＞

Daejoong SON  | Konkuk University, South Korea 

- Biography -

Daejoong SON is an international educator who serves as the Director of International Programs at Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. 

With over 25 years of experience, ranging from international relations to recruitment, his expertise is varied.

He received a joint Erasmus Mundus master's degree in European Higher Education from Oslo University in Norway, Tampere University in Finland, and Aveiro University in Portugal. The title of his thesis is “International Student Mobility Towards South Korea: Motivations for Choosing South Korea as a Study Abroad Destination.” 

He served as the President of KAIE (Korean Association of International Educators) for three years from 2019 to 2022. His primary interest in international education is how to improve the quality of programs and how to engage students in an intercultural environment. Daejoong has shared his experiences and insights at international and domestic conferences such as APAIE, COHAHEC, JAISE, and KAIE conferences. 

Blair THOMSON  | University of Mississippi, USA 

- Biography -

Blair Thomson is an international education leader, attorney, and Fulbright alumna with nearly two decades of experience advancing global engagement in higher education. 

She serves as Senior International Officer at the University of Mississippi, where she leads strategic initiatives across five major units and sits on the university’s AI Policy Advisory Board. Her work explores the intersection of global mobility, AI governance, and educational equity, with a focus on building ethical, innovative internationalization models for the future.

Sagar BAHADUR  | Acumen, India

- Biography -

Sagar Bahadur is a recognised leader in global education strategy, with a 15-year track record of shaping and scaling international higher education initiatives.  

As the Executive Director for India, South Asia, and South East Asia at Acumen, he leads the region’s growth and expansion strategy for Sannam S4/Acumen, a premier global partner for strategic and sustainable international education. His work focuses on building bridges between institutions, governments, and students across borders, with a strong emphasis on long-term partnerships and high-impact outcomes.

Sagar’s visionary leadership led to the successful launch of Gradstar Global Education in 2022, securing over 40 global university collaborations and delivering rapid growth. His prior experience includes an 8-year tenure with Amity Education Group, where he played a key role in establishing multiple international campuses. 

In the context of Japan, he has played a leading role in efforts to elevate Japan’s visibility and competitiveness as a global study destination, especially across South Asia. His work focuses on building institutional capacity, enabling two-way student mobility, and advancing awareness of Japan’s academic excellence through strategic campaigns, policy engagement, and ecosystem development. He is committed to positioning Japan as a key force in the next era of global education.

Guy PERRING | etio, Malaysia and UK

- Biography -

Guy Perring is an influential leader in the education sector, serving as the Regional Director for Asia at Etio - an innovative benchmarking and consultancy firm. 

With a passion for transforming international education, he delivers powerful insights that drive global institutions toward excellence in internationalization, enriching the student experience, and unlocking pathways to meaningful employment and citizenship.

With over 25 years of diverse experience—ranging from teaching and administration to market research and consultancy—Guy’s expertise is unparalleled. His previous 12-year tenure at the British Council saw him spearheading impactful projects, including a groundbreaking Southeast Asian Transnational Education initiative that strengthened partnerships between UK and local institutions.

Guy has shared his insights at prestigious international conferences such as APAIE, Going Global, QS, NAFSA and the Commonwealth of Education Ministers. An alumnus of both Manchester and Durham Universities, he combines academic rigor with practical expertise to shape the future of global education. His dedication and innovative approach make him a true catalyst for positive change in the sector.

Hai LIU | Chengdu University, China

- Biography -

Liu Hai is an Associate Professor at the Overseas College, Chengdu University, where she also oversees international cooperation and exchange initiatives. 

She holds a Master’s degree in International Education from Durham University (UK) and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from Southwest University (China). Her research focuses on international education, comparative education, and early childhood education.

14:00-14:15

Break

14:15-14:45

Japan Forum for Internationalization of Universities Special Session Part 1

"Multicultural Campus Project toward Social Impact: Sharing Good Practices across Institutions"

By sharing the good practices gained through Multicultural Campus Project toward Social Impact (SI Project) with members of Japan Forum for Internationalization of Universities, we aim to expand the practices nationwide beyond the scope of the universities selected for the SI Project.

＜Chair＞ Osamu OHNEDA | Vice President for Global Affairs, University of Tsukuba

"Empowering Changemakers to Transform Society: OSIP – A Social Impact Initiative"

＜Speaker＞ Keiko IKEDA | Professor, Kansai University

"Updates on Co-creation-based International Collaborative Learning: Progress Toward Comprehensive Internationalization"

＜Speaker＞ Kazuko SUEMATSU | Professor, Tohoku University

"Multicultural Co-learning-meister System Utilizing JV-Campus"

＜Speaker＞ Ryosuke OHNIWA | Professor, University of Tsukuba

14:45-16:15

Japan Forum for Internationalization of Universities Special Session Part 2

"Global Outreach of Japanese Higher Education: Emphasis on Online Learning Resources"

JV-Campus is an all-Japan online education platform that functions as an international gateway for higher education in Japan. Over 80 institutions from both Japan and abroad participate, offering more than 500 pieces of content. These resources are being used in innovative ways, such as delivering micro-credential programs to learners around the world and creating packages that combine classroom sessions and credit awards, turning them into university-level courses. This initiative marks the emergence of a new educational model that utilizes cloud-based educational resources. This session will explore this growing trend of deploying Japanese online education resources in international contexts.

＜Chair＞ Ryosuke OHNIWA | Professor, University of Tsukuba

"Digitally‑Augmented New Pedagogy for the Post‑Post‑COVID Era"

＜Speaker＞ Tomoki FURUKAWA | Professor, Kansai University

"Deployment of Digital Educational Materials in Uzbekistan"

＜Speaker＞ Hiroaki HAGA | President, Digital Knowledge, Co.

"The Impact of the Micro-Credential Framework and the Establishment of the Japan Micro-Credentials Organization"

＜Speaker＞ Masahiro INOUE | Professor, Taisho University

"Japan's Higher Education Market from a Global Perspective"

＜Speaker＞ Keizo YOSHIDA | Managing Director, Deloitte Tohmatsu Group

16:15-16:30

Closing Remarks