On Friday, September 9, JICUF and Japan Society held a discussion and reception at Japan Society focused on Japanese higher education’s response to the war in Ukraine. Moderated by Japan Society President & CEO Joshua Walker, the panel included ICU President Shoichiro Iwakiri, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration’s Laura Wagner and JICUF’s Paul Hastings.

President Iwakiri focused on why ICU decided to provide scholarships to five Ukrainian students displaced by the war. He also provided an update on how the students are doing. Laura Wagner explained how the Presidents’ Alliance is working with universities across the United States to support refugee students. Paul Hastings provided an explanation of complementary education pathways for refugees and discussed JICUF and Pathways Japan’s efforts to recruit and place Ukrainian students at Japanese universities through the Japan-Ukraine University Pathways program.

A reception was held immediately following the discussion. It was a wonderful opportunity to be together and to discuss the amazing leadership that Japanese higher education institutions have shown in supporting Ukrainian students.

A recording of the discussion is available here.