1st Global PR Ambassador Meeting Held

In December 2024, Hokkaido University established the Hokkaido University Global PR Ambassador Program to enhance its international presence and networks. The appointment of PR Ambassadors began in March 2025. The program invites primarily overseas-based alumni and individuals with close ties to the university to serve as Global PR Ambassadors, supporting Hokkaido University’s international public relations and recruitment efforts.

As part of the program’s official kickoff, the first Global PR Ambassador Meeting was held online on April 22, with 16 ambassadors joining from around the world — including Europe, Asia, and North America — overcoming time zone differences to participate.

The meeting opened with a welcome address from President Kiyohiro Houkin, who expressed his appreciation for the ambassadors’ involvement, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with alumni, and shared his hopes for future collaboration. Also attending from Hokkaido University were Executive Vice President Aya Takahashi, Executive Vice President Atsushi Yokota, as well as Deputy Director of the Office for International Collaboration, Nori Miyokawa, who provided updates on the university’s current activities, initiatives for the upcoming 150th anniversary, and international PR and recruitment strategies.

A scene from the online meeting, with Global PR Ambassadors and university leaders exchanging ideas. From left: EVP Takahashi, President Houkin, EVP Yokota, and Deputy Director Miyokawa.

The second half of the meeting was dedicated to an open discussion, where participants shared ideas on how ambassadors and the university could collaborate moving forward. Many ambassadors expressed a strong interest in helping to build momentum for the university’s 150th anniversary celebrations within overseas communities and emphasized the importance of strengthening alumni networks abroad.

Ongoing discussions are expected to continue online, with concrete activities to be developed in collaboration between the university and its Global PR Ambassadors.