News and features

The University of Washington (UW) and Kobe University reaffirmed their long-standing commitment to academic and research collaboration on March 2, hosting a formal signing ceremony and international research workshop in Kobe, Japan. The event marked an important step forward in expanding joint initiatives across education, research, technology transfer, and innovation.

Expanding a longstanding partnership

Building on an existing academic memorandum of understanding, the two institutions signed new accords to deepen cooperation. These include a student exchange agreement between Kobe University and UW Global and an industry–university collaboration memorandum between Kobe University’s Institute for Academic Research and Co-Creative Innovation and UW’s CoMotion innovation hub.

Prior to the ceremony, the UW delegation met with Kobe University President FUJISAWA Masato. The delegation included: Dr. Ahmad M. Ezzeddine, Vice Provost for Global Affairs; Dr. Gayle Christensen, Associate Vice Provost for Global Affairs; Dr. Anson Fatland, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation Strategy and Ventures; and Ashlee Esteban-Akimoto, Director of CoMotion Labs.

During the meeting, leaders from both institutions discussed opportunities for expanded collaboration across a broad range of academic and innovation fields.

Strengthening ties across sectors

At the signing ceremony, President Fujisawa and Dr. Ezzeddine reaffirmed their shared commitment to increasing student exchange, advancing technology transfer, and promoting industry–government–academia collaboration.

Also in attendance were Mr. SEGO Tatsuya, Director General of the Kobe City Government, and Mr. TAKADA Atsushi, Vice Chairperson of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Both expressed strong support for expanding collaborative efforts with Kobe City and local industry partners, including the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe.

Showcasing cutting-edge research

Following the ceremony, an international research workshop was held at the Graduate School of Medicine’s Medtech Innovation Center (MIC). The program highlighted key research areas within the Kobe University Engineering Biology Project (KUEB), featuring presentations on next-generation biomedical science, engineering biology, and synthetic biology.

Researchers from both universities shared cutting-edge work in fields such as:

• Translational bioengineering
• Global health
• Synthetic biology
• AI applications in medicine
• Vascular regeneration
• Gene expression regulation in yeast
• Genome database analysis

Each session included dynamic Q&A discussions, underscoring strong research synergies between the institutions. Participants also toured laboratory facilities to explore ongoing projects firsthand.

A foundation for future innovation

The signing ceremony and workshop created a comprehensive platform for deepening collaboration between Kobe University and the University of Washington—not only in education, but also in research partnerships, technology transfer, and innovation-driven startup activity.

Both universities will continue to build on this momentum, pursuing joint research and fostering innovation aimed at addressing global challenges and contributing to a sustainable future.

This broader relationship provides opportunities for joint research, education, and innovation in quantum, disaster resilience, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and medicine.

Tohoku University and the University of Washington (UW), two leading academic research institutions of the Pacific Rim, announced a significant expansion of their decades-long collaboration with the launch of “Q-DREAM.”

The agreement, signed by university leaders in Tokyo today, provides a broader, future-oriented framework that represents areas of the highest potential synergy. The two universities will engage in joint research, education and innovation in quantum information science & engineering, disaster resilience, engineering and advanced manufacturing, and medicine, summarized with the acronym Q-DREAM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A monthly gathering for faculty who are engaged or interested in global work.

UW Global is pleased to invite faculty from across the University of Washington who are engaged in or curious about global work to join a new monthly gathering:

UW Global Community Conversations

This is not a lecture series. It is a welcoming and conversational space to meet colleagues, share food and drink, and connect around the many ways global perspectives show up in our teaching, research, and engagement. Whether your work involves international research, global learning, study abroad, visiting scholars, or exploring global issues locally, this is a place to get to know one another, exchange ideas, and build community.

Each month, we’ll feature a brief, informal spotlight such as a faculty project, a new global initiative, or an international guest on campus to spark conversation. The heart of the gathering, however, is the conversation itself: time to talk, listen, make connections, and learn what others across campus are doing.

When: First Tuesday of each month (during the academic year)

Where: UW Club

Format: Drop in, grab a snack, stay for as long as you like

First Gathering

Tuesday, March 3

3:00–5:00 p.m.

UW Club

For our inaugural gathering, Ahmad Ezzeddine, Vice Provost for Global Affairs, will offer brief opening remarks and reflections on UW Global’s mission and priorities, followed by plenty of time for conversation and connection.

Light food/snacks and beverages will be provided. RSVPs are appreciated to help us plan, but faculty are always welcome to stop by even if they decide at the last minute.

We hope this becomes a familiar rhythm on campus: if it’s the first Tuesday of the month, it’s UW Global Community Conversations at the UW Club. Come when you can, bring a colleague, and help build the vibrant community of globally engaged faculty at UW.

Professor Azadeh Yazdan, Professor Kelly Stevens, and Professor Cole DeForest, all from the UW department of bioengineering, have been named co-chairs of major bioengineering conferences, coming up this summer.

Professor Azadeh Yazdan will co-chair the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS 2026) in Toronto. Her co-chairs will be Professor Guy Dumont of the University of British Columbia and Milos Popovic of the University of Toronto. The society includes more than 10,000 members around the world, and its 48th annual conference’s theme will be “Engineer Sustainable and Equitable Healthcare.” UW Bioengineering’s Professor Paul Yager is scheduled to speak at the conference.

Professor Kelly Stevens, who is also director of the UW Biomaterials HUB, will co-chair Signal Transduction by Engineered Extracellular Matrices GRC, a leading forum for sharing cutting-edge research on the biology and engineering of cell-ECM crosstalk. The conference will be held in May in Switzerland. Her co-chair will be the University of California Santa Barbara’s Professor Beth Pruitt. UW Bioengineering’s Professors Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert and Elizabeth Wayne are scheduled to speak at the conference.

Finally, Professor Cole DeForest will co-chair Bioinspired Materials GRC, focusing on biomimetic solutions that have not yet been found, as well as areas where biomimicry leads to engineered solutions that have no natural counterpart. The conference will be held in June in Switzerland. His co-chair will be the University of Fribourg’s Professor Ullrich Steiner, and Bioengineering’s Professor Nancy Allbritton is scheduled to speak at the conference.

Dear University of Washington Community,

As I approach my first anniversary as UW’s Vice Provost for Global Affairs, I want to reflect on the remarkable progress we’ve made together and share our vision for the year ahead. In a time of global uncertainty, the University of Washington has not only maintained a strong international focus, but continued to strengthen its impact, affirming that global engagement is more essential than ever.

Our achievements this year are the result of the visionary leadership of our faculty and staff and the dedication of the UW Global team. Together, we advanced our strategic priorities:

Advancing global research and innovation: Through the Global Innovation Fund (GIF), we awarded more than $360,000 to 40 interdisciplinary projects, fostering new collaborations and innovative approaches to global learning. The GIF deadline for the 2026 cycle is January 31. I encourage faculty to apply and help us continue driving innovation across our campuses.

Expanding global learning opportunities: Nearly 3,000 UW students studied abroad in more than 80 locations worldwide, supported by more than $1 million in need-based scholarships. Hundreds of students engaged at our UW Rome and León Centers, and nearly 1,000 attended our Study Abroad Fair to explore global experiences. Beyond mobility, we are facilitating local global-learning opportunities and are investing in infrastructure for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) to broaden student access to global experiences.

Building and deepening partnerships: From new collaborations with institutions like Tohoku University and the University of Sheffield to hosting international delegations and sending UW faculty and students abroad, we continue to strengthen our global network.

Ensuring health, safety, and compliance: Our Global Travel Health and Safety team supported thousands of UW travelers and launched new policies to ensure safe and compliant international engagement.

Looking ahead, our priorities remain clear: serving as the University’s global hub for engagement; supporting faculty in research, teaching, and developing and sustaining institutional international partnerships; expanding global learning opportunities for every UW student — locally, virtually, or abroad; providing robust global support for health, safety, and compliance; and building resources to fund faculty and student global experiences.

To reflect our evolving scope and vision, we are transitioning our name from the Office of Global Affairs to UW Global. This name underscores our role as the University’s gateway to international engagement, connecting faculty, students, and staff with global opportunities and fostering the cross-cultural innovation that defines us as a leading global university.

Ultimately, our mission is to serve you. Whether building financial resources for research or managing the complexities of international operations, our goal is to ensure UW remains at the forefront of global education.

It has been an honor to serve as your Vice Provost over the past year. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am excited for the momentum we will build together in 2026.

With gratitude,

Ahmad Ezzeddine, UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs

University of Washington senior Parker Ritzmann, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a one-year, fully-funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

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Study abroad program in Rwanda pairs UW and pan-African students for an up-close look at a nation on the rise.

A new study abroad program in Rwanda led by two University of Washington Bothell faculty members takes international and interdisciplinary collaboration to the next level.

Instead of visiting the country of 14 million people as a cohort just from UW Bothell, 17 UW students recently spent four weeks studying, traveling and researching alongside 16 counterparts from across Africa.

Their focus: leadership and nation building.

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The University of Washington has again earned a prestigious recognition for the impact and importance of the connections faculty, students and staff have with local, regional and global communities.

All three UW campuses were recognized with the Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification, placing the university among 277 peer institutions nationwide. Officials with the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, who award the designation, noted that these universities are deepening partnerships, centering community assets and addressing urgent societal challenges with clarity and distinction.

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Students immerse themselves in biodiversity, conservation and sustainability experiences while studying in Peru.

For Dr. Ursula Valdez, Peru holds a special place in her heart as not only her home country but also as a point of fascination for her research as a tropical ecologist. Valdez is a lecturer in the University of Washington Bothell’s School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and has shared her passion for Peru with her students, even leading study abroad experiences for them to immerse themselves in the country’s natural wonders right alongside her.

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When the historic tall ship Stratsraad Lemkhuhl sailed into Puget Sound in late October, it kicked off a week-long set of events to highlight the numerous ways the ocean impacts our lives. What followed was One Ocean Week Seattle, overseen and hosted by Washington Maritime Blue, bringing together international ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, policymakers, artists, educators and communities to showcase the ocean’s immeasurable value and accelerate solutions for a sustainable future.

The UW played a significant role in the week’s events, culminating in an expo that took place on the ship while dockside in downtown Seattle. Jan Newton, oceanographer with UW’s Applied Physics Lab and the College of the Environment School of Oceanography, served on the event’s steering committee and played a pivotal role in making sure UW ocean sciences were well represented at the city’s inaugural One Ocean Week celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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