Okayama University Vice President Atsufumi Yokoi Appointed as MEXT Advisor — To Speak as Japanese Government Representative at NAFSA 2026, the World's Largest International Education Conference, Also Specially Invited to Plenary Session and Selected as Featured Speaker!
Okayama University Vice President Atsufumi Yokoi has been appointed as an Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). He will represent the Japanese government at the "Japan Session" of NAFSA 2026, the world's largest international education conference, and has also been specially invited to the final day's plenary session and selected as a Featured Speaker. This marks the first selection of a Japanese university official in five years since the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly contributing to enhancing Japan's presence in international education.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 23:45
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May 3, 2026
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
It has been decided that Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President (Global Engagement) and UNESCO Chair Holder of the National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu), will speak as a representative of the Japanese government at the "Japan Session" during the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference, the world's largest international education conference, held from May 26-29 in Orlando, Florida, USA. He has also been specially invited to speak at the "Global Outlook Spotlight Panel," the plenary session on the final day.
Vice President Yokoi will speak at the Japan Session as an Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and has also been selected as one of the Featured Speakers, prominent global speakers at the NAFSA conference. This is the first time in the past five years since the COVID-19 pandemic that a Japanese university official has been selected.
The NAFSA Annual Conference is the largest and most influential international conference in the field of international education, bringing together approximately 10,000 higher education professionals, researchers, and policymakers from over 150 countries. During the conference, numerous official sessions are held by various governments and universities, including a "Japan Session" to disseminate Japanese policies and higher education initiatives.
At this Japan Session, Vice President Yokoi will speak on behalf of the Japanese government, conveying the state of international education in the digital age, responses to multicultural co-learning, examples of university initiatives, and perspectives on Japanese higher education to higher education professionals from various countries.
Okayama University is promoting diverse educational and research activities under international frameworks, including the MEXT subsidy program "Support Project for Creating Social Impact through University Internationalization," adopted in FY2024, the development of multicultural co-learning programs utilizing digital tools, and participation in the "AI and Higher Education" Action Group of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI).
Moving forward, our university will continue to actively work with international education networks and partners such as NAFSA to enhance the international presence of Japanese higher education and co-create a sustainable future through multicultural co-learning. Please continue to look forward to the initiatives of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university.
This information was released by Okayama University on April 20, 2026.
◆ References
・Okayama University Global Engagement Office
https://globalengagementoffice.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・NAFSA Annual Conference 2026
https://www.nafsa.org/2026
・Featured Speakers
https://www.nafsa.org/2026/Featured-Speakers
Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita-ku, Okayama City)
◆ Contact for this matter
Okayama University Global Engagement Office
2-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus
TEL: 086-251-8326 (Planning Division, International Planning Section)
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/news/news_id15307.html
＜For matters related to collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Industry personnel)＞
Okayama University Hospital New Medical Research and Development Center
2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8558
Please inquire about relevant cases via the URL below
http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/ph_company/
＜For matters related to collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (Medical personnel/Researchers)＞
Okayama University Hospital Research Promotion Division, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Promotion Section
2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8558
TEL: 086-235-7983
E-mail: ouh-csnw◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
* Please replace ◎ with @
http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/medical/
＜Contact for industry-academia-government collaboration at Okayama University＞
Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-creation Organization, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters
1st Floor, Headquarters Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530
TEL: 086-251-8463
E-mail: sang
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
It has been decided that Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President (Global Engagement) and UNESCO Chair Holder of the National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu), will speak as a representative of the Japanese government at the "Japan Session" during the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference, the world's largest international education conference, held from May 26-29 in Orlando, Florida, USA. He has also been specially invited to speak at the "Global Outlook Spotlight Panel," the plenary session on the final day.
Vice President Yokoi will speak at the Japan Session as an Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and has also been selected as one of the Featured Speakers, prominent global speakers at the NAFSA conference. This is the first time in the past five years since the COVID-19 pandemic that a Japanese university official has been selected.
The NAFSA Annual Conference is the largest and most influential international conference in the field of international education, bringing together approximately 10,000 higher education professionals, researchers, and policymakers from over 150 countries. During the conference, numerous official sessions are held by various governments and universities, including a "Japan Session" to disseminate Japanese policies and higher education initiatives.
At this Japan Session, Vice President Yokoi will speak on behalf of the Japanese government, conveying the state of international education in the digital age, responses to multicultural co-learning, examples of university initiatives, and perspectives on Japanese higher education to higher education professionals from various countries.
Okayama University is promoting diverse educational and research activities under international frameworks, including the MEXT subsidy program "Support Project for Creating Social Impact through University Internationalization," adopted in FY2024, the development of multicultural co-learning programs utilizing digital tools, and participation in the "AI and Higher Education" Action Group of the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI).
Moving forward, our university will continue to actively work with international education networks and partners such as NAFSA to enhance the international presence of Japanese higher education and co-create a sustainable future through multicultural co-learning. Please continue to look forward to the initiatives of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university.
This information was released by Okayama University on April 20, 2026.
◆ References
・Okayama University Global Engagement Office
https://globalengagementoffice.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・NAFSA Annual Conference 2026
https://www.nafsa.org/2026
・Featured Speakers
https://www.nafsa.org/2026/Featured-Speakers
Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita-ku, Okayama City)
◆ Contact for this matter
Okayama University Global Engagement Office
2-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus
TEL: 086-251-8326 (Planning Division, International Planning Section)
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/news/news_id15307.html
＜For matters related to collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Industry personnel)＞
Okayama University Hospital New Medical Research and Development Center
2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8558
Please inquire about relevant cases via the URL below
http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/ph_company/
＜For matters related to collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (Medical personnel/Researchers)＞
Okayama University Hospital Research Promotion Division, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Promotion Section
2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-8558
TEL: 086-235-7983
E-mail: ouh-csnw◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
* Please replace ◎ with @
http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/medical/
＜Contact for industry-academia-government collaboration at Okayama University＞
Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-creation Organization, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters
1st Floor, Headquarters Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530
TEL: 086-251-8463
E-mail: sang