The 3rd International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education (IECHE) was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 17 to 20, 2012. The IECHE is an annual international academic convention organized by the Ministry of Higher Education of Saudi Arabia. The event aims to promote student recruitment and academic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and higher education institutions throughout the world. This year's event drew participants from over 450 academic institutions in approximately forty different countries. The delegation from Kyoto University comprised Prof. Junichi Mori, vice-president for international relations and director-general of the Organization for the Promotion of International Relations, Professor Emeritus Koichi Ono, senior research administrator, and one staff member from the university's International Affairs Division.
As in previous years, the conference opened with an address by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammad Al-Angari, who gave an overview of the aims of the conference, and discussed Saudi Arabia's national strategy for higher education. The exhibition was open to the general public, and featured individual booths by all of the event's participating institutions. The booths, manned by representatives from each institution, provided students, scholars, parents and other interested parties with information and consultation on education and research opportunities. The Kyoto University delegation was kept busy providing information and materials to a stream of curious and enthusiastic young locals with a strong interest in pursuing study in Japan. The conference also featured a four-day program of lectures, discussion sessions and workshops. Presenters included key figures in international academia, business and politics.
In addition to participating in the conference and exhibition itself, the event provided the Kyoto University delegation with several other opportunities to promote and strengthen cooperative links in the region. On April 18, Vice-President Mori visited Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, where he delivered a very well received lecture on the current situation regarding higher education in Japan. Other items on the itinerary included an information-gathering visit to the Riyadh Office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) by Prof. Ono, and meetings with several leading Saudi Arabian universities to establish education and research cooperation. Notable meetings included a highly productive session with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the affiliated Saudi Aramco oil company, and a meeting to conclude an academic cooperation and exchange agreement between the College of Sciences and Humanitarian Studies of Salman bin Abdulaziz University and Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture.
As the enhancement of education and research continues to be a national priority for Saudi Arabia, it is hoped that the groundwork for academic cooperation laid during the IECHE will lead to fruitful relationships between Kyoto University and its Saudi Arabian partners.
 Vice-President Junichi Mori speaks to some prospective students at the Kyoto University booth. |  Over 450 academic institutions from approximately forty different countries participated in the 3rd ICEHE. |
 Discussing the potential of international collaboration (clockwise, L to R): Mr. Waleed A. Al-Somali and Mr. Jeffrey Schley of the University Relations Division, Saudi Aramco; Prof. Koichi Ono, senior research administrator, Kyoto University; Dr. Samir A. Al-Baiyat, director of international cooperation, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; Prof. Junichi Mori, vice-president for international relations, Kyoto University (facing away from camera). |  Dr. Awad Kh. Al-Asmari (L), vice-rector for research and graduate studies of Salman bin Abdulaziz University and Vice-President Mori (R) signing the agreement for academic cooperation and exchange. |