On March 1, Ambassador of Switzerland Dr. Andreas Baum payed a courtesy visit to Keio University which was organized by the Science & Technology Office Tokyo (STO). After a warm welcome by President Prof. Kohei Itoh, Ambassador Baum and Keio University’s president joined a discussion also attended by Prof. Motohiro Tsuchiya (Vice-President for Global Engagement and Information Technology) and Prof. Yukihiro Ikeda (Vice-President for Human Resource Management).

Both sides expressed their interest in further enhancing collaboration and mobility between the university and Switzerland and for cooperation on the occasion of high-level visits from Switzerland. Ambassador Baum also introduced the new Swiss Consulate in Osaka–the latest Swissnex location in Japan–as an additional contact point to STO as a sign that Switzerland is strengthening its ties with excellent higher education institutions such as Keio University. STO represented by Kyoko Marumo Suzuki and Michael Vogelsanger also attended the meeting.

After the discussion, President Itoh guided Ambassador Baum through Mita Campus where they visited the Keio University Public Speaking Hall and the Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum located inside the university’s old library.

Several professors from Keio University, including Presidents Itoh, are strongly connected to counterparts in Switzerland. He has visited Switzerland several time during his academic career and has also been engaged in previous CYBATHLON events in Japan organized by the STO. Keio University’s Professors have also been contributing to events organized by the Embassy of Switzerland, such as Prof. Genya Ishigami at the EPFL Virtual Space Tour 2021 in Tokyo.

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