Karlsruhe

Governor of Kanagawa and President of Yokohama National University as guests

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Karlsruhe welcomed a high-ranking delegation from Japan on 18 July 2024. Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa, and Izuru Umehara, President of Yokohama National University, visited the university to honor and deepen the partnership established last year. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Schenkel, President of DHBW Karlsruhe, emphasized: “We are delighted to welcome this high-ranking visit from Japan to DHBW Karlsruhe. The meeting serves to strengthen and reaffirm our partnership.” The visit centered on a special lecture to mark the anniversary of the agreement between DHBW Karlsruhe and Yokohama National University, which focused on the topic of health.

Innovative ME-BYO concept for an ageing society

Governor Kuroiwa presented the ME-BYO concept from Kanagawa, which responds to the challenges of an ageing society. “The Japanese population is getting older, the age pyramid of 1970 will be completely reversed by 2050,” explained Kuroiwa. ME-BYO focuses on the state between health and disease and emphasizes the importance of social activities, healthy eating and exercise for healthy ageing. “In Kanagawa, we are doing everything we can to create these conditions for our ageing population. This ranges from exchange programs between young and old people to modern and innovative medical treatment options. The prefecture has already seen initial successes. Compared to other parts of the country, the number of residents requiring long-term care is significantly lower in Kanagawa.”

Focus on research activities

President Umehara gave an overview of the research activities at Yokohama National University, which focus on innovative technologies and interdisciplinary approaches. Prof Dr Oliver Bender from DHBW Karlsruhe presented the “Healthy University – DHBeWell” project, which is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of students and systematically developing interventions to improve student health.

View of the dual partners

Dr Thomas Bauer, Head of Vocational Training & Training at Daimler Truck Germany, and Johannes Schmalzl, Chairman of the Würth Foundation, rounded off the event with perspectives from DHBW Karlsruhe's corporate partners.

Deepened relationships and exchange

The visit significantly strengthened the relationship between DHBW Karlsruhe and its Japanese partners. The representatives of both institutions gained deeper insights into the respective research focuses and educational approaches. The exchange laid the foundation for future joint research projects and educational programs.