Ambassadors from Panama and Japan discussed research and strategic development at BUT

Brno University of Technology recently welcomed several world ambassadors. Recent international visits include ambassadors from Panama and Japan, who discussed international cooperation, development in strategic areas and interest in technical fields and research with the university's management.

The Panamanian delegation, which consisted of Ambassador of the Republic of Panama Enrique Alberto Thayer Hausz, First Secretary Lhuana López Amorim and Advisor for Latin America Kamil Gregůrek, discussed with representatives of the BUT mainly cooperation between Czech and Panamanian universities.

The international delegation showed the greatest interest in technical fields and specific research in which Brno University of Technology is involved. Due to its unique location on the Panama Canal, Panama has to constantly deal with water surplus or shortage, and therefore the topic of water management is crucial for Panama. This is an area three BUT faculties are involved in as well, and university experts have developed a number of projects that contribute to water conservation and sustainability.

"The water management system we have had for the last hundred years is now inadequate due to climate change. Therefore, we are now developing new ways to manage water and BUT could participate in the research and development," explained Ambassador Enrique Alberto Thayer Hausz, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama.

The meeting also addressed the possibility of studying programmes in Czech and English, preparing foreign students to study in Czech and exchange visits of students and university staff. Both sides consider the improvement of cooperation in the field of education to be crucial. "For us, it is especially interesting that Panamanian students can come here and go through their studies from bachelor's to doctoral level, because in Panama the offer of doctoral studies is very limited," said the Panamanian ambassador.

"I am pleased that we can start to build mutual cooperation. BUT is ready for foreign students and academics," said Iveta Šimberová, vice-rector for internationalisation and external relations. Further joint meetings could already take place directly at the level of the experts.

In the case of the Japanese ambassador, it was more of a courtesy visit. Ambassador Kansuke Nagaoka discussed possible cooperation between BUT and Japan with the university management. They focused mainly on research, exchange of students and cooperation with Japanese companies in the Czech Republic. The meeting also included cooperation in the field of semiconductor technologies, which is why Stanislav Černý, the President of the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster, was also present.

Author: Lenka Hubáčková