Between 20 and 23 April 2016, Professor Kazuhiro Yoshida and Professor Tatsuya Kusakabe, from the Centre for the Study of International Cooperation in Education (CICE) at Hiroshima University in Japan, visited the Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) at the University of Pretoria (UP).

Prof Yoshida presented a seminar at the Faculty of Education titled 'Education 2030: International co-operation, and the role of researchers in the post-2015 era'.

During the lecture he discussed Education 2030, the global agenda for educational development recently adopted by UNESCO, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030. This means that South Africa needs to realise improved learning outcomes while ensuring inclusiveness and equity. Prof Yoshida explained that many developing countries, despite the utmost efforts of their stakeholders, need to turn to international aid by bilateral and multilateral agencies, which are increasingly using what is called a results-based financing modality. He said that the implication of such a trend is daunting to both countries and their development partners, and that this is precisely where enhanced contribution by researchers is most needed.

Prof Kusakabe attended multiple meetings with the aim of initiating a new project on 'Inclusive and equitable quality education in schools'. This project will focus on learning improvement in primary and high schools in South Africa. Prof Kusakabe attended a meeting at the CJS with Prof Yoshida, Director at CICE; Professor Hartell, Director of CJS; Dr Kgadi Mathabathe from the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology in the Faculty of Education; and Prof Gilbert Onwu.

Prof Onwu, Prof Yoshida, Dr Mathabathe, Prof Kusakabe

Prof Yoshida, Prof Kusakabe and Prof Hartell also visited two schools in Mamelodi: Moretele Primary School and J Kekana Secondary School. It was agreed that, at the latter school, a research project would be launched to improve the mathematics marks of Grade 6 and 7 learners. Prof Hartell and Dr Mathabathe will interview Grade 6 and 7 teachers to determine their challenges and Grade 6 and 7 learners to determine their educational needs.

In addition to the above endeavours, Prof Yoshida and Prof Kusakabe attended a meeting with Prof Irma Eloff, former Dean of the Faculty of Education; Prof Molatlhegi Trevor 'Chika' Sehoole, Dean of the Faculty of Education; Prof Max Braun, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education; Prof Gerrit Stotlz, Head of the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology; and Prof Hartell, on the renewal of an existing Memorandum of Understanding between CICE and the Faculty of Education. All parties responded positively to the renewal.