Representatives from the European Commission and the Japanese government met in Tokyo on Wednesday 3 April for the third edition of the EU-Japan Policy Dialogue in the areas of education, culture and sport. This meeting is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the two regions.
The meeting was jointly chaired by the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, and the Japanese Minister for Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology, Masahito Moriyama.
“We are building bridges between our societies, strengthening our friendship and promoting mutual understanding”, said Ms Ivanova, stressing the value of political dialogue in strengthening bilateral ties. The European Commissioner also highlighted how these discussions have led to significant advances in digital transformation, international mobility and personal and professional development, thereby contributing to inclusion and well-being.
One of the key points discussed was the state of play of student and academic staff mobility between the EU and Japan, notably through the Erasmus+ programme, which over the past 3 years has facilitated the mobility of around 1,750 students and academic staff.
Discussions also focused on the integration of generative artificial intelligence into education, exploring its potential to personalise learning and prepare students for the digital age. Ethical considerations, data confidentiality and improving the digital skills of educators were central to the discussions.
6th EU-China High-Level dialogue. Commissioner Ivanova began her trip to Asia on Thursday 28 March (see EUROPE 13381/17) with a visit to Beijing to take part in the 6th EU-China High-Level Dialogue the following day. Focusing on “working together for a greener and more sustainable future”, the discussions focused in particular on the importance of education in the ecological transition and the promotion of an open and inclusive academic environment. The aim was to look at the impact of climate change on cultural heritage.
Student mobility, which experienced a major set-back during the Covid-19 pandemic, was another key topic, highlighting the importance of an open and inclusive academic environment. The EU has expressed its concerns about obstacles to open scientific exchange and civil society participation, re-emphasising the value of academic freedom. China was encouraged to take steps to reverse current restrictive trends.
The Dialogue also explored gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the importance of empowering younger generations in tackling climate change.
Finally, the environmentally and socially responsible organisation of sports events was identified as a key element of the ‘European Green Deal’. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)