Strengthening faculty development through international collaboration
Jamie Rinder from KTH's Department of Language and Communication highlighted the drive for international collaboration during his recent visit to the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) showcasing the benefits of global academic partnerships.
Strategic partner universities
The KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm is strengthening its strategic partnership with the University of Tokyo, in particular its Graduate School of Engineering. This collaboration, which is part of KTH's goal to deepen cooperation with leading global institutions, also includes joint efforts with Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.
The partnership focuses primarily on research collaboration, student and faculty exchange, and faculty development. Recognising the accelerating need for educational development driven by e-learning and globalisation, KTH values the exchange of ideas with international partners as essential to its development.
A key activity of the partnership is to increase contacts between staff to foster new areas of collaboration and strengthen existing ones. This was exemplified by Jamie Rinder from KTH's Department of Language and Communication, who visited the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) during the spring semester. His visit was aimed at fostering long-term cooperation in teaching, learning and research.
University of Tokyo and Language & Communication
Hosted by Professor Yumiko Furuichi at UTokyo's Department for Global Education, Jamie worked with Japanese and English teachers on Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) and scientific writing. He introduced UTokyo to the Global Engineers Languages and Skills (GELS) network and co-organised a training event for language teachers from across Japan.
“I’ve been able to share my experiences of developing courses and activities focused on STEM communication and also the results of recent practice-based research by English teachers at KTH. Together with students and staff at UTokyo, I’ve also considered new ways that training in language and communication can boost a technical education,” said Jamie.
Jamie's visit also included networking opportunities at events organised by UTokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kyoto University, Tottori University and the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo. He was particularly inspired by the academic culture at UTokyo and appreciated the warm welcome he received.
KTH's commitment to fostering international collaborations highlights the importance of global partnerships in enhancing educational and research capabilities. The ongoing collaboration with the University of Tokyo is an important step in achieving inclusive and high quality education through joint efforts.