UI, Hiroshima deepen relationship

University of Idaho President Scott Green took part in the University Presidents for Peace Conference in Hiroshima, Japan, on Tuesday, Aug. 6. 

The event is hosted by Hiroshima University and is a piece of a broader U of I delegation’s trip to the region to discuss potential student and curriculum exchanges.  

U of I has a long-held relationship with Hiroshima University and the city of Hiroshima. Last spring, U of I awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters to Keiko Ogura, a survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima who has committed her life to ensuring the knowledge about the bombing is not lost.  

hile in Hiroshima, the U of I delegation is also attending an event commemorating the dropping of the atomic bomb, which led to the end of World War II.  

“Understanding and learning from history is a vital part of higher education,” Green said. “Peace around our world is a noble goal we should all support. I am honored that President Mitsuo Ochi invited me to this peace event and look forward to continued collaboration with him and the University of Hiroshima.” 

Other international universities represented at the event include institutions from Italy, Poland, Indonesia, India, Sweden and Taiwan.  

The U of I delegation is also talking with Hiroshima University leaders about exchange programs, specifically around high-demand careers such as computer science and engineering.  

“The needs continue to grow and the opportunities for students around the world are endless,” Green said. “Collaboration is the best way to meet the challenges ahead.” 

These conversations follow a visit to Idaho from President Ochi and a delegation from Japan earlier this summer. U of I leadership toured the delegation across the state, showcasing some of the land grant efforts of U of I, including the McCall Field Campus, home to the McCall Outdoor Science School, as well as both the U of I Boise Center and the main campus in Moscow.