Letters from HUAP: Julien Chicot

This article was published in the Autumn 2021 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.

Dr.  Julien Chicot

Senior Policy Officer, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities

Hokkaido University Partner

My former tutor at Hokkaido University, Professor Toru Yoshida, asked about my interest in applying to become a Hokkaido Uni­versity Partner. I was very honored to have his recommendation and ac­cepted. At that time, I was working for a network of European Research & Technology Organizations. I was already convinced of the crucial role of research and innovation in our societies, and was willing to be more active in science advocacy. The offer from Hokkaido University was there­fore very well-aligned with my vision of the role of universities in our so­cieties and my career choices. Hok­kaido University is a university that has played a significant role in my education and, more broadly, in my life. It is therefore important for me to encourage Europeans to go there for a study or research stay, and to ap­preciate it as much as I did. I am also deeply impressed by the ambition and commitment of Hokkaido Universi­ty to increasing its openness to the world and strengthening its global visibility through its former visiting students and researchers.

The Grand Place, the central square of Brussels.

I participated in the Hokkaido University Short-Term Exchange Pro­gram (HUSTEP) in 2008-2009. My home university in France required that all its students spend a year abroad. Thanks to the wide curricu­lum offered by HUSTEP, I expand­ed and deepened my knowledge in economics, history, sociology and even linguistics. I also learned more about ikebana, koto and calligraphy. I clearly remember the high quality of the Japanese language courses: When I arrived, I was a complete beginner and was very dependent on the sup­port of my Japanese mentor; And in a few weeks, thanks to my great Jap­anese teachers, I made spectacular progress and could have basic con­versations with anyone in Japan. The quality of life on Hokkaido Univer­sity’s campus and, more broadly, in Sapporo must be acknowledged. I am deeply convinced that I made the best choice when I decided to study there.

View of Brussels from Poelaert Square.

I am now working as Senior Policy Officer for The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, a network comprising 21 of the most distinguished universities in 16 Eu­ropean countries. My role consists in supporting our members to engage in policy discussions, at the level of the European Union, in the fields of open science, innovation, medical research, and Artificial Intelligence and digital research. The Guild also advocates for stronger scientific cooperation with like-minded non-European coun­tries, including Japan.

One of the most famous friteries or frikots of Brussels: the place to buy traditional French fries.

Hokkaido University has a great motto. ‘Be ambitious!’ Their am­bition is key to the success of Hok­kaido University in achieving its missions. It implies staying united, open to the world, and committed to proposing solutions to the global challenges our society is currently facing through frontier research and innovative pedagogy.

Parc du Cinquantenaire, one of the most popular parks in Brussels.

I would be delighted to use both my professional position and my role as an HU partner to contribute to fur­ther strengthening the links between European and Japanese universities. I am willing to facilitate project-based research collaboration between Hok­kaido University and Guild universi­ties and, on a policy level, to support the participation ofJapan as an asso­ciate country to Horizon Europe, the main EU research and innovation funding program. In parallel, I will keep promoting individual initia­tives of Hokkaido University, such as international exchange programs and summer schools, to our Euro­pean universities, as these actions are crucial for increasing our mutual understanding and trust.

This article was published in the Autumn 2021 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.