On August 16, Okayama University and the Six National Universities Network/International Education & Research System, Japan (SUN/SixERS) signed a cooperation agreement with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of Myanmar, aiming to encourage students from Myanmar to study in Japan.

The purpose of the agreement is to develop human resources in Myanmar and promote academic and educational exchanges between Japan and Myanmar under the Study in Japan Global Network Project (the former Study in Japan Coordinator Project) which has been entrusted to Okayama University by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

On the same day, the signing ceremony was held in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, attended by Dr. Thein Win, Director General for the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of Myanmar, President Hirofumi Makino of Okayama University, as well as many other attendees such as Deputy Director General Dr. Thet Tin Nyunt, Deputy Director General Dr. Aung Aung Min and Deputy Director General Ms. Nwe Ni of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of Myanmar, and Dr. Myo Khin, head of the Myanmar Branch of the Okayama University International Alumni Association. Prof. Masao Tsuri, Vice-Director of Global Partners of Okayama University and Ms. Asami Torigoe, Study in Japan Coordinator, also attended the ceremony as representatives of SUN/SixERS. President Makino, on behalf of SUN/SixERS and Okayama University, and Director General Dr. Thein Win both signed the agreement.

The number of Myanmar students who study at universities in Japan has been increasing year after year. In 2017, approx. 2,700 students from the country were studying at higher education institutes in Japan, of which about 100 students were studying at the Six National Universities. Further promotion of educational and research exchanges is expected between the Six National Universities Network and Myanmar universities following the signing of the agreement.

● Six National Universities Network/International Education & Research System, Japan (SUN/SixERS)
An organization that was established within the Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan to promote collaboration and cooperation for international activities between six national universities in Japan (Okayama University, Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Nagasaki University and Kumamoto University).