A signing ceremony of the University-wide Partnership Agreement between Istanbul Technical University and Keio University was held at Mita Campus on May 24, 2010. Three representatives from Istanbul Technical University, including Rector Muhammed Sahin, President Atsushi Seike and Vice-President Naoyuki Agawa from Keio University, and Dean Yoshiaki Ohkami and Professor Hidekazu Nishimura of SDM attended the ceremony. Rector Sahin’s visit to Japan was a part of the events surrounding 2010 Japan Year in Turkey to mark 120th anniversary of rescuing the crews of Turkey’s navy vessel (Ertuğrul Fırkateyni) that had shipwrecked off the coast of Kishu. The two universities are planning faculty and student exchanges and joint research, and since Rector Sahin has a deep interest in research on reducing the damage caused by natural disasters, SDM will be actively involved in the partnership.
The guests from Istanbul Technical University visited Hiyoshi Campus after the ceremony, and saw a research demonstration conducted at SDM. SDM professors introduced ALPS, a practical project in cooperation with international universities, and discussed the research on reducing natural disaster damage with them.