The 24th AEARU Board of Directors Meeting Held

April 9 and 10, 2009

The 24th Board of Directors Meeting of the Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU) was held at Pohang University of Science and Technology (Pohang, Korea). The AEARU comprises 17 research universities in the East Asian region (China, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan). As the chair university, Kyoto University plays an active role in the operation of the AEARU and the promotion of academic exchange among member universities.

The Meeting was attended by 14 directors and others from the following 5 universities: Kyoto University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Tsing Hua University (Hsinchu) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. At the Meeting, Kyoto University President Hiroshi Matsumoto explained that he had taken over the duties of the Meeting's chairperson from the former Kyoto University President Kazuo Oike. This explanation was followed by a review of AEARU activities for 2008, examination of future efforts and discussion of the increase in number of AEARU directors.

After the Meeting, President Matsumoto visited Pohang Accelerator Laboratory of Pohang University of Science and Technology, and gave a special interview to Korean Maeil Business regarding Kyoto University's international exchange activities and new efforts made after the University was given national university corporation status. The other members visited POSCO, a steel manufacturer in Pohang, to view collaborative efforts between the company and universities.

On April 10, President Matsumoto discussed the Meeting's future directions, then went to Pusan. On April 11, he visited Pusan National University and discussed international exchange activities with the director and other staff members of the University's College of Natural Sciences.

President Matsumoto serving as Meeting's chairperson	Pohang Accelerator Laboratory
The Board of Directors Meeting	University representatives present at the Meeting