Principal Daniel Woolf and Vice-Principal (Research) Steven Liss have completed a successful trip to Asia aimed at deepening existing relationships and expanding partnerships overseas. The Queen’s delegation visited Singapore and Japan, participating in several events at partner institutions and diplomatic missions in both countries.

“This visit has been an important reminder of how much Queen’s has to offer this region and how much we can benefit from further engagement,” says Principal Woolf. “During our visits to universities, I was struck by the similarities in the values we desire for our graduates, including a strong foundation in a broad-based education that recognizes the importance of global exposure and experience. Our efforts to enhance partnerships in this part of the world will only serve to strengthen both our student learning experience and our research prominence.”

One of the trip’s highlights took place at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, where Principal Woolf and Vice-Principal Liss took part in interviews for the Prince Takamado Visiting Student Scholarship. The scholarship is a special tribute to Prince Takamado, who studied at Queen’s in the 1970s and ’80s and died suddenly in 2002.

“Prince Takamado recognized the importance of a global education,” says Principal Woolf. “It was with great pleasure that Vice-Principal Liss and I had the opportunity to participate in the selection process for this scholarship.”

"This visit has been an important reminder of how much Queen’s has to offer this region and how much we can benefit from further engagement.”

- Principal Daniel Woolf

During the Japan portion of their trip, Principal Woolf and Vice-Principal Liss visited several universities, including Keio and Waseda Universities, where they met with senior leaders and discussed the exchange partnerships between Queen’s and the two universities. They also attended the Japan Studies Association of Canada Conference, hosted at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, which included a research presentation by Queen’s professors Audrey Kobayashi and Jeff Masuda.

At Nagoya University, the Queen’s delegation attended the opening of a new laboratory building, a facility that will help support Professor Cathleen Crudden’s international research program.

“Queen’s research activities benefit immensely from international collaborations and I am happy to have had the opportunity to see what Dr. Crudden has helped develop in Japan and the possibilities for more collaboration, both in Japan and Singapore,” says Vice-Principal Liss.

While in Singapore, Vice-Principal Liss gave a presentation on his own research into wastewater treatment, during a visit to Nanyang Technological University. In addition to institution visits, the Queen’s delegation met with many Queen’s alumni in both countries, and hosted alumni events in both Singapore and Tokyo.

Principal Woolf writes more about his travels in Singapore and Japan on his blog.