Dekehtik, Pohnpei, FSM- On February 15, the crew of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology research vessel the Umitaka Maru hosted a reception on board to celebrate an important agreement between the College of Micronesia FSM and Tokyo University. Tokyo University student crew members served refreshments and sang for the gathered crowd of Government and College officials.
The agreement between the two schools is designed to deepen the friendship and for expanding mutual understanding between the institutions through academic and education cooperation. The two schools have agreed to collaboration among faculty and staff members for research, symposia, and other academic pursuits as feasible and mutually agreed. It allows for exchange visits by students as mutually agreed and jointly arranged, joint research projects, and exchanged of information materials on education, training and research matters.
College President Spensin James said that this is not the first arrangement of its type with Universities in Japan. The College has similar agreements with other universities there as well.
When the vessel left the Port of Pohnpei, Clayton Maluwelgiye, an official in charge of aquaculture at the College of Micronesia was on board. He traveled to Japan where he received training on fisheries issues. His training was facilitated by the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation through their invitation program.
While in Japan Maluwelgiye visited with representative of the Japanese fishing industries leaders and fishing facilities. In addition to meeting with Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology he also visited the Overseas Purse-Seine Fishing Association as well as the Hokkaido Regional Fisheries Institute and Hokkaido University where he conducted research on fisheries resource management.