Visit of the JICA Delegation to ITU within the Scope of the Turkish–Japanese Science and Technology University Project

The delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited Istanbul Technical University on Monday, 24 August 2026, as part of the preparatory study for the “Turkish–Japanese Science and Technology University (TJU) Development Project.”

The visit was conducted as a component of JICA’s field research on the processes related to TJU’s academic and research activities. The meeting, held in the Senate Hall of the Rectorate Building at the Ayazağa Campus, began with introductory presentations by both sides. Following ITU’s presentation on its academic structure, research infrastructure, and international cooperation vision, the JICA delegation outlined the scope of the TJU Development Project and the objectives of the preparatory study.

During the meeting, topics such as ongoing work in earthquake and disaster science, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and energy and environmental studies were discussed, along with inter‑university cooperation models, mechanisms for attracting and sustainably supporting qualified researchers, student application trends, and university governance structures. Opportunities for joint research programs and student exchange were also on the agenda.

In the second part of the program, the delegation visited the Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences at ITU, where they toured a laboratory and examined the institute’s research infrastructure and ongoing projects on site.

Representing ITU, the meeting was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. İpek Akın Karadayı; Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Lütfiye Durak Ata; Deputy Director of the Disaster Management Institute Prof. Dr. M. Barış Can Ülker; Prof. Dr. Cengiz Yıldırım and Prof. Dr. Oğuz Hakan Göğüş from the Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences; Head of the Asia–ASEAN Office Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pelin Bolat; and Deputy Director of the Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences Dr. Ömer Kamacı.

The JICA delegation included Mr. Hiroyuki Kanzaki (Operations Management) and Mr. Takatoshi Takemoto (Education Planning – Overseas Training Program / Joint Research) from Asia Seed; Mr. Naoto Morimoto (Equipment and Procurement Planning) and Ms. Yu Tomura (Procurement Planning Support) from Oriental Consultants Global; along with JICA specialists Ms. Çağla Berker and Ms. Mamiko Tomita.

The visit marked an important step in strengthening ITU’s academic collaborations with Japan and in evaluating potential joint work areas with the planned Turkish–Japanese Science and Technology University.