On November 8, three young female researchers in the second phase of the “Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan,” a short-term joint research and training course for young female researchers from developing countries, organized by Okayama University and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), paid a courtesy visit to President MAKINO Hirofumi of our university.
　
The courtesy visit was attended by Senior Vice President for Global Engagement Strategy YOKOI Atsufumi, Vice President for International Affairs SUZUKI Takayoshi , and others. Young female researchers talked about their career and research plans to be implemented at the university, and President MAKINO introduced related initiatives at the university, and thus the visit was conducted in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish.
　
After the courtesy visit, the young female researchers visited the university library. They toured the library facilities, including Murata Academia and the stack rooms.
　
On January 9, 2020, Okayama University became the world’s first university to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UNCTAD. Both entities agreed to develop human resources in “Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals” (STI for SDGs) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and established the joint research and training course for young female researchers from developing countries as a direct result. Based on this agreement, “Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan” offers a short-term joint research and training Programme of two weeks to one month for young female researchers from ASEAN and African developing countries in UNCTAD member countries. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the first phase of the programme in the Academic Year 2021 was conducted online, but in 2022, 14 participants (8 from South Africa, 2 from Gambia, and 1 each from Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the Philippines) are scheduled to visit Japan from October to next February.
　
As an organizer of this programme, Okayama University is actively strengthening its ties with UNCTAD, a UN body that implements and manages STI for SDGs, and promoting STI for SDGs human resource development domestically and globally.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Their headquarters are located in Geneva. They work together with other UN Secretariat to comprehensively addresses issues related to trade, finance, investment, technology, and sustainable development in developing countries facing various problems arising from globalization by maximizing their opportunities and equipping them with the means to integrate into the global economy on an equal footing.