The closing ceremony of the second short online program between Chiba University and the Panama Technological University was held on March 4, 2022.

The short online program is part of JAPOLAC’s Program for University Internationalization, which seeks to introduce practical and distinctive knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC) to Japanese university students, encouraging them to visit and study in the LAC region.

The three-week short-summer online program included courses such as a brief history of Panama and its Canal, Panama as Logistic Hub, and Forest Engineer in the Central American Tropics.

Japanese students did not only learn practical knowledge about Panama, but also were able to put in practice their international communication skills as all courses were taught in English language.

The closing ceremony included the participation H.E. Hideo Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Panama, the President of Panama Technological University, Mr. Hector Montemayor, and the Vice-President for Education and International Affairs of the University of Chiba, Mr. Makoto Watanabe. It also counted on the honorable presence of Ms. Margelia Palacios, Director of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Panama.

The Director Representative of JAPOLAC, Dr. Ritter Diaz, expressed his gratitude to Chiba University and Panama Technological University for their continuous academic cooperation to further increase knowledge and connection between students of Japan and Panama.

JAPOLAC aims at promoting practical educational exchanges between Japan and LAC as well as connecting universities with productive forces of society to better prepare students for a changing labor market.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC participated in the inauguration of the Photographic Exhibition “Dimension of Devotion – Images of the Oruro Carnival”, from the Bolivian photographer Marcelo Chacon Aracena.
The Oruro Carnival is a religious and cultural festival held in Oruro, Bolivia, and it is a blend of belief from Andean deities and Christianity. It is dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria or Virgin of the Mineshaft. The carnival is one of UNESCO’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
During the festival, over 40 groups of folk dancers perform 18 different dances, which showcase the multicultural nature of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

The exhibition was organized by the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia on February 25, 2022, at the Latin American Hall of Kowa Building No. 38 in Tokyo. On this occasion, the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia also presented a musical and dance performance reflecting the cultural tradition of the carnival.

The Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC) organized a business meeting to introduce hot sauces manufactured by Productos Lux, S.A., a Panama company with more than 50-years producing high quality hot sauces for the Panamanian, Central American, Caribbean and US markets.

One of the activities of JAPOLAC is the promotion of small and medium size companies from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries interested in the Japanese market. Through business facilitation, JAPOLAC identifies, evaluate, select and recommend LAC companies with high quality products for the Japanese market.

JAPOLAC also promotes small and medium size Japanese companies interested in selling products in LAC countries.

The Japanese Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC) organized a virtual meeting in order to promote academic exchanges between the School of Medicine of Chiba University and the School of Medicine of the University of Panama.

Participants from the University of Panama’s Medicine School included Dr. Oris Lam de Calvo, Dean of the School, Dr. Marcos Young, Vice Dean, Dr. Americo Lombardo, Director of the School, Dr. Lilibeth Castillero, Coordinator of International Student Exchange, and Dr. Alfredo Martiz, Advisor of the School of Medicine.

Chiba University counted on the participation of Dr. Shoichi Ito and Dr. Eiji Shimizu, Professors of the Graduate School of Medicine, Mr. Kiyoshi Takao, Deputy Director of International Affairs, Ms. Takako Toda, Head of the International Students Division, Mr. Hiroshi Sodeyama, Deputy Chief of the International Students Division, and Ms. Satoko Jumi, Head of the International Affairs Department.

Both parties carried out a general presentation of their universities and academic programs, with a view to exploring the academic and research areas that can provide added value to their students.

JAPOLAC counted on the participation of Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Association and Ms. Martha Zelayandía, former Ambassador of El Salvador in Japan and Honorary Member of JAPOLAC, in charge of international exchange programs.

One of the objectives of JAPOLAC is the promotion of academic exchanges between Japanese and Latin American and Caribbean universities, as well as the creation of an academic and research network between Japan and LAC.