Inauguration ceremony for the establishment of ICREMER (June 5, 2010)
On June 5, Akita University held an inauguration ceremony at Akita View Hotel to celebrate the establishment of the International Center for Research and Education on Mineral and Energy Resources (ICREMER) which was established in October 2009 to educate and train human resources in the field of resource development.
The ceremony started with an opening speech by Prof. Noboru Yoshimura, President of Akita University, who expressed the wish to make ICREMER a hub for education and training of human resources to be engaged in mine and resource development, promoting Japan´s contribution to the world and international exchanges. Mr. Kiyoshi Shimizu, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology said, in his address, “There are global needs for human resources development in the resource-related sector. To work beyond the framework of Akita University, it is desirable to create a consortium, involving other institutions such as academic associations and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This will provide an opportunity to promote the work of ICREMER from Akita to the global stage”. Following that, Mr. Takashi Nakano, Vice-Governor of Akita Prefecture, then His Excellency Mr. Oscar Motswagae, Ambassador of Botswana to Japan and His Excellency Mr. Rentsendoo Jigjid, Ambassador of Mongolia to Japan gave congratulatory speeches.
The plan of establishing ICREMER was originated from a request of the Government of the Republic of Botswana for collaboration in fostering experts to establish a new university that focuses on mining studies, to which Akita University responded, offering its support. In this scheme, faculty members of Akita University are deployed to resource-producing countries on a long term basis to attend the needs for technical assistance and human resources development in the resource-related sector, whilst ICREMER also accepts research students from those countries to provide practical education and trainings in the fields of resource studies. ICREMER has already been cooperating by means of technical assistance for the establishment of Botswana International University of Science and Technology, which will be opened as Botswana’s second national university. ICREMER is expecting the signing of partnership agreements with two universities in Mongolia in July of this year as well, to develop its activities under solid frameworks in the resource-rich country.
