About
In April 2025, Okayama University established the Global Engagement Center to plan and coordinate its global engagement strategy, with the aim of promoting Internationalization in Higher Education for Society (IHES). At the same time, the Center was designated as the organization responsible for operating the UNESCO Chair in Research and Education for Sustainable Development, which is accredited by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and hosted by Okayama University.
By accelerating global engagement, advancing institution-wide education and research, and strengthening international collaboration and networks, the Center aims to enhance the University’s research capacity as a research university promoting the SDGs. These efforts also contribute to stabilizing the University’s management foundation and strengthening its international presence.
Note: The Center was reorganized following the integration of the Global Engagement Office, which operated from April 2020 to March 2025.
Members
Director Professor Atsufumi Yokoi
Vice Director Professor Tatsuya Sakamoto
Vice Director Senior Global Administrator (Senior UGA) Ms. Miki Harada
Division of the Okayama University UNESCO Chair
Chairholder Professor Atsufumi Yokoi Educational and Research Management Field Faculty Information
Special-Appointment
Assistant Professor
Fielardh Khalifatulloh
Faculty Information
Affiliated Faculty Members
Professor Tatsuya Sakamoto
Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology
Ushimado Marine Institute
Professor Yasuyuki Nogami Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology
Professor Mitsunobu Kano Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems
Associate Professor Yuko Kataoka
Medical Development Field
Hearing Health Center, University Hospital
Division of the Global Engagement Office
Senior Global Administrator (Senior UGA)
Ms. Miki Harada
Chief Global Administrator (Chief UGA)
Ms. Yu Tsuha, PhD
Mr. Naoki Honjo Director of Institutional Planning Department
Ms. Megumi Tamura Director of International Affairs Division, Institutional Planning Department
External Executive Advisers
Utak Chung
Adjunct Professor Humanitas College, Kyung Hee University
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma
Chair of the H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma Foundation
Chair of the International Jury of the UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD
PhD (Okayama University, hon.)
Charles A. Hopkins
UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability York University, Canada
PhD (Okayama University, hon.)
Toshiya Hoshino
Inspector, Joint Inspector Unit of the United Nations System
Professor Emeritus, Osaka UniversityFormer
Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
Former Vice President, Osaka University
Mirian Vilela
Executive Director
Earth Charter International
Earth Charter Center on Education for Sustainable Development at the University for Peace Coordinator, UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Developmentwith the Earth Charter
Organizational Structure
