2025/09/19

Commemorative photo at the University of Potsdam (from the left in the front row, Vice President Ichihashi (SU), State Secretary Westphal, President Günther (UP), President Sakai (SU), Governor Ōno, Chairman Shirato)

Saitama University (SU) actively promotes international collaboration by establishing academic exchange agreements with numerous universities and institutions worldwide. As part of these efforts, on September 10, 2025, we signed a new academic exchange agreement with the University of Potsdam (UP) in Germany, which includes student exchange programs.

This agreement was concluded in response to a proposal from UP, coordinated through Saitama Prefecture, as part of a project commemorating the 25th anniversary of the sister city partnership between the State of Brandenburg in Germany, where UP is located, and Saitama Prefecture.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Volker-Gerd Westphal, State Secretary, and other government officials from the State of Brandenburg, as well as Mr. Motohiro Ōno, Governor of Saitama Prefecture, and Mr. Yukihito Shirato, Chairman of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly, and other government officials from Saitama Prefecture were present as official witnesses. In a solemn atmosphere, Dr. Oliver Günther, President of UP and Dr. Takafumi Sakai, President of SU signed the agreement, expressing their hopes for promoting future exchange between the two universities.　

After the signing, a discussion focused on student exchange took place. Dr. Hideo Ichihashi, Vice President for International Affairs and Global Education, gave a presentation introducing SU.

President Günther and President Sakai signing the Agreement

Vice President Ichihashi giving a presentation