Saher Fazilat, McMaster’s Vice-President (Operations and Finance), visits Japan as part of a Canadian university vice presidents’ delegation

Throughout March 2025, McMaster’s Vice-President (Operations and Finance), Saher Fazilat, was part of a Canadian delegation organized by the University Vice-President’s Network (UVPN) to Japan. During the visit, she explored opportunities to strengthen current partnerships and initiate new collaborations.  

“This visit offered a unique opportunity to connect with institutional leaders who share our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global engagement,” said Fazilat. “It was incredibly energizing to see how our work at McMaster aligns with the priorities of our Japanese counterparts.” 

The delegation met with representatives from  Waseda University, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo,  Embassy of Canada to Japan, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and Tohoku University.    

These visits focused on networking with Japanese counterparts to explore cutting-edge innovations in education.  Delegates gained insights into Japan’s advancements in technology integration in education, including AI in learning environments, smart campus infrastructure, and robotics. Meetings with Japanese government institutions and research bodies also highlighted opportunities for strategic collaboration on university research transformation.  

Another key area for discussion was ways to enhance exchange programs by building relationships aimed at expanding student and faculty exchange programs. Delegates explored new ways to support experiential learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional mobility, in alignment with shared efforts to internationalize campuses and provide students with global competencies. 

The Japanese universities and government agencies visited are known for their high-impact research and commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Government bodies such as the Japan Science and Technology Agency play a vital role in linking academic research with industry, supporting innovation through funding programs, and promoting the public understanding of science. 

The delegation also had a chance to visit the Canadian Embassy to Japan and learn more about the role of the embassy in fostering strategic partnerships between Canada and Japan, especially in areas including trade, education, research, and technology. 

“As we look to the future of higher education, international collaboration is essential,” said Fazilat. “These conversations are paving the way for meaningful student experiences and innovative research partnerships that will benefit both our institutions and our communities.” 

McMaster’s relationship with Japan 

McMaster University shares a long history of engagement with these Japanese higher education institutions (and others) through research and various mobility initiatives.  The university maintains strong student exchange collaborations with many leading Japanese universities, where we send and receive undergraduate and graduate exchange students on an annual basis to conduct research and attend classes.   

McMaster also participates in an ongoing trilateral collaboration with the University of Tokyo and University of Toronto through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), with a focus on engineering and materials science.  This includes an annual UT²-Mac Workshop, which rotates hosting between the three institutions. The most recent workshop was held in May 2024 at McMaster and focused on engineering towards sustainable development goals, energy for the future, and innovative medical systems. Dr. Shinya Nagasaki, Professor of Engineering Physics at McMaster, is an alumnus and Fellow of Engineering at the University of Tokyo and has played a significant role in establishing and maintaining this collaborative workshop.   

Between 2020-2025, Tohoku University undertook research collaborations with Shrikant Bangdiwala in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact; and Kevin Lacaille in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 

McMaster’s Office of International Affairs also had the privilege of hosting a Japanese delegation  in June 2024, welcoming Yasutsugu Tamura, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan; Izumi Iwaoka, Consul at the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto; Yaroslava Timoshenko, Economic Affairs Aide at the Consulate General; and Dr. Toru Nakatsuka, Director at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The visit included a tour of McMaster’s nuclear reactor and discussions on new funding initiatives by the Japanese government, enhancing student mobility, and expanding exchange opportunities.