Indo-Japan Academic Exchange: Kwansei Gakuin University’s Delegation Visits Parul University!
The delegation and the program
From 1st to 3rd October 2026, CIRR of Parul University proudly hosted a 3-day India-Japan Academic Exchange wherein delegates from Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, visited Parul University and shared their experiences.
- Ms. Toyoshima Miyako – Administrative Head of the Organisation for Worldwide Collaboration, KGU
- Prof. Akihiko Fujiwara – Dean of the School of Engineering and Professor in the Program of Materials Science, KGU
- Prof. Dr. Manish Biyani – Professor, School of Science & Technology, KGU.
This exclusive program was led by Dr. Preeti Nair, Director of CIRR, followed by Mr. Prince Rathod, Assistant Director of CIRR, along with Ms. Anuja Tidke, Mr. Vivek Singh, and Mr. Krunal Oza.
The delegation met the visionary leaders, leadership team, deans, and heads of departments of Parul University and was impressed with the research & development ecosystem, well-equipped laboratories, and student interactions at Parul University. The very first day started with a traditional welcome at PU Circle and a campus tour, followed by a meeting with the CIRR team, and then the delegation met Dr. K.N. Madhusoodanan, Provost; Dr. Trilok Akhani, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science; Dr. Swapnil Parikh, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Technology; Dr. Rajindar Kaur, In-charge Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts; Dr. Khyati Jhala, HOD of Electronics & Communication Engineering; and Dr. Bela Shah, Faculty coordinator in the Faculty of Engineering & Technology. They even visited the Future Skill Lab!
Kwansei Gakuin University
Kwansei Gakuin University is a private, comprehensive institution in Hyogo Prefecture in Japan’s Kansai region. This university was established way back in 1889. There are about 30,000 students enrolled in 14 schools within the institution, which has a Spanish mission-style campus and the motto “Mastery for Service.” The university has partnerships with more than 320 institutions globally, including those in India, and it has about 1,000 international students pursuing degrees from the university, along with other exchange and short-term students.
The academic day: three sessions
The third day, 3 October 2026, was the program’s academic day. It featured two academic sessions and a student-and-parent briefing, each covered in its own section of this document:
- Akihiko Fujiwara on semiconductor materials and devices!
A ninety-minute session for Electronics and Communication Engineering students on the basics and applications of semiconductor materials, from the quantum-mechanical origin of band structure to his group’s work on amorphous oxide semiconductors and solution-processed thin-film transistors. - Manish Biyani on discovery, invention, and innovation.
A talk for first-year master’s students of the Faculty of Applied Sciences by an Indian scientist who has built his career in Japan, on turning research into products, his start-ups and biosensor technologies, and concrete routes for Parul University students to connect with opportunities in Japan, including a Summer Exchange Program. - Toyoshima Miyako on the semester exchange in Japan.
A briefing for Parul University students registered for the KGU semester exchange and their parents, covering courses, credits, accommodation, homestay, the Japanese language, and careers in Japan.
Internationalisation at Parul University!
The delegation visit advances Parul University’s internationalisation, adding depth to its network of global partnerships and opening practical routes for student and faculty exchange with Japan. For students, it brought leading Japanese academics into the studio and classroom and set out tangible next steps. A semester exchange, a summer program, and research collaboration that connect a Vadodara campus to one of Japan’s established private universities.
