[Okayama University] VP Atsufumi Yokoi Appointed as MEXT Advisor, Speaks at 'NAFSA 2026' as Japanese Government Representative - Advancing International Education through AI and Multicultural Co-learning -

June 9, 2026
Okayama University

◆Overview

Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President for Global Engagement at Okayama University (Okayama City, President: Tomonari Nasu), participated as a MEXT advisor at NAFSA 2026, one of the world's largest international education conferences, held in Orlando, USA, from May 26 to 29, 2026.

Representing the Japanese government, Vice President Yokoi participated in two sessions: the 'Japan Session' titled 'The Digital Age Imperative: Multicultural Co-learning for International Education,' and the 'Global Outlook Spotlight Panel,' which discussed trends in international higher education.

At the Japan Session, moderated by Kaori Furuya, a specialist in the Higher Education Bureau at MEXT, Yokoi spoke alongside Assistant Professor Aya Ishida from Kansai University. Leveraging Okayama University's efforts in multicultural co-learning, Yokoi introduced an AI-powered educational model, proposing a new learning environment to help Japanese students overcome language anxiety and participation barriers.

At the Global Outlook Spotlight Panel, moderated by Ahmad Ezzeddine, President and Chair of NAFSA and Vice President for International Affairs at Wayne State University, Yokoi served on a panel with José Celso Freire, Vice President for International Affairs at São Paulo State University (UNESP), and Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of World Education Services. The panel discussed how structural changes such as geopolitics, demographics, and technological innovation are transforming international higher education, covering the redefinition of internationalization, the development of sustainable international partnerships, and clarifying the value of international education.

In his remarks, Yokoi stated, 'Modern issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and broader sustainability crises are not just scientific or political problems; they are fundamentally crises of ethics, values, and worldview.' He emphasized that future university internationalization must not only focus on mobility like study abroad but also incorporate internationality into the learning environment itself through multicultural co-learning. This, in turn, boosts mobility and, through tools like AI simultaneous translation and opinion-gathering apps, realizes a more inclusive form of internationalization that allows many students to participate in global learning regardless of language skills or previous study abroad experience.

Under the vision of 'realizing a sustainable future for human society through the creation, emergence, and inheritance of advanced knowledge,' Okayama University will continue to contribute to the global presence of Japanese higher education and the realization of a sustainable society through international networks like NAFSA.