20^th anniversary of cooperation between AGH University of Krakow and Shibaura Institute of Technology

On May 8, 2024, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the AGH University and the Shibaura Institute of Technology. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan to Poland, Mr. Miyajima Akio, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the Management of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange and the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, University Authorities, Rectors, Vice-Rectors, graduates of the prestigious Energy and Environmental Engineering program and other members of the academic community. Over one hundred and twenty guests participated in the ceremony, including the delegation from Japan. The live broadcast was watched by representatives of Partner Universities around the world. The event’s host started the ceremony, followed by the welcoming speech from His Magnificence Rector of AGH University of Krakow, Prof. Jerzy Lis. The following guests were presented and gave a speech:

• President of SIT, Dr Jun Yamada
• His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan to Poland, Mr. Miyajima Akio
• The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Japan, Mr. Paweł Milewski, who joined the event online
• Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Director Tomasz Sadziński, who read the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski
• Director General of NAWA Dr. Dawid Kostecki,
• Director of FRSE Ms. Katarzyna Aleksy, who read a letter from the General Director of FRSE Mr. Mirosław Marczewski,
• Professor Janusz Szmyd, Coordinator for Cooperation with Japan at AGH University, who presented the history of Polish-Japanese cooperation and summarized two decades of scientific collaboration between SIT and AGH University.

The following point of celebrations’ program was the presentation of diplomas to graduates who completed the joint second-cycle (Master) Degree Programme of the Energy and Environmental Engineering (3E) by the President of SIT, Dr Jun Yamada and Prof. Akito Takasaki, the course coordinator from the Japanese side, and the Dean of the Faculty of Energy and Fuels Prof. Monika Motak and Prof. Janusz Szmyd from the Polish side. Graduation diplomas were awarded to Gregory Bond III, Eryk Jasak, Mateusz Mańka, Bartłomiej Sarwa, and Paweł Sochański
The program’s highlight was the ceremony of awarding the doctorate and diploma to Mr Marcin Pajak. Dr Eng. Marcin Pająk defended his doctoral thesis, „An Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization of The Catalyst Distribution in a Methane-Steam Reforming Reactor” supervised by Prof. Janusz Szmyd and Prof. Shinji Kimijima. Dr. Eng. Marcin Pająk took a solemn oath in the presence of the gathered guests and the promoter, Prof. Szmyd, Chairman of the Scientific Discipline Council: Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy, Prof. Stanisław Nagy, Vice-Rector for Cooperation prof. Rafał Wiśniowski, and His Magnificence Rector of AGH University.
The 20th anniversary of the cooperation between AGH University of Krakow and Shibaura Institute of Technology sums up two decades of scientific cooperation between the two universities and confirms the excellent relations between Poland and Japan. AGH University cooperation with SIT is part of a broader strategic partnership between two countries, which brings tangible benefits to both institutions, their staff and students, and the entire international scientific community.