ポンゼショセ学長フィリップ・クルティエ教授が社会基盤学専攻をご訪問　Director of Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (ENPC) visits the Department

平成21年7月3日（金）にフランスのグランゼコールの中でも最上級に位置する名門校（ルイ15世の勅令によって、国家建設に不可欠な土木・建築領域におけるテクノクラート養成を目的として創立、現在においても最難関校の一つ）、ポンゼショセ（Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees: ENPC）の学長　フィリップ・クルティエ教授が、工学系研究科との包括的学術協定ならびに社会基盤学専攻とENPC との学生相互留学協定への調印のため来日し、研究科長と社会基盤学専攻を訪問した。

同日午後には社会基盤学専攻で歓迎会が開かれ、石原教授の歓迎の挨拶の後、長井講師、鈴木助教が留学生プログラムや専攻の研究教育の現状を紹介するとともに、コンクリート、海岸、土質、景観研究室、実験室等を案内した。またフィリップ・クルティエ学長は、留学生受け入れ業務全般を担当する留学生担当事務室（FSO）、基礎日本語教育を行っている専攻日本語教室、留学生出身国の民芸品を展示しているラウンジを見学され、FSOの中村さん、林さんから留学生の日常生活の説明を受けた。さらにENPCへの留学を希望する日本人学生達はクルティエ学長と熱心に懇談し、本交流協定に基づく留学プログラムへの理解を深めた。

社基歓迎式	クルティエ学長と学生との懇談

社会基盤の歓迎会の後、列品館に移動し、工学系研究科長が主催した調印式に出席された。調印式では、保立研究科長がフランスの名門大学であるENPCと工学系研究科との包括的学術協定ならびに学生相互留学の協定の締結が大変喜ばしいと挨拶し、クルティエ学長から両大学の学生が国際的かつ多様な経験・教育を受けられることは学生にとっての極めて有意義であるとの返礼を頂いた。その後、前川教授、石原教授、堀井教授より本交流協定の経緯、社会基盤学専攻での歓迎会の様子、ENPCとの今後の交流計画について説明され、保立研究科長とクルティエ学長による調印、記念品の交換が行われた。

クルティエ学長と保立研究科長	調印式

クルティエ学長からは短期間の滞在ではあったが、大変有益であったと感謝の意を頂いた。私たちも本交流協定の成功と両大学の今後のますますの発展を確信した。最後に本交流協定にご尽力を頂いた加藤浩徳准教授とルイス佐藤教授をはじめ、関係者一同に感謝の意を表する。

社会基盤学専攻　専攻長　小澤一雅

Director of Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (ENPC) visits the Department

On July 3, 2009, Professor Philippe Courtier, the Director of Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees (ENPC) visited the Department of Civil Engineering to sign the exchange program agreement between the School of Engineering and ENPC. Established more than two hundred years ago under the superior command of Louis XV for the purpose of training the elite French civil engineers, ENPC is one of the most highly renowned institutes among the Grandsecol. Through the exchange program between ENPC and Civil, students and faculty members will be exposed to advanced research and educational opportunities offered by two of the world leading institutions.

In the early afternoon, the welcome ceremony was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering. Professor Takesh Ishihara extended warm welcome to Professor Courtier and Professor Louis Sato by his greeting speech. After Assistant Professor Kohei Nagai and Dr. Naofumi Suzuki introduced the current research and educational activities of the Department, including its International Graduate Program, they took a short tour to the laboratory rooms of Concrete Eng., Coastal Eng., Geotechnical Eng., and Landscape and Civic Design. They also visited: the Foreign Student Office (FSO), the secretariat for all admission and scholarship matters in the Department of Civil Engineering; the Japanese Language Class, which offers basic language classes to international students of the Department and their family; and the 2nd Floor Lounge, where they enjoyed the displays of a full of folk handicrafts that have been brought by past and current international students from all over the world. Ms. Toshiko Nakamura and Ms. Nami Hayashi of FSO escorted this circuit and explained everyday life of our international students. After the tour, several Japanese students, who are interested in studying at ENPC with this exchange program, had an energetic discussion with Professor Courtier and Professor Sato and deepened their understandings of the program.

Welcome Reception at Civil Engineering	Discussion with Professor Courtier and students

After the welcome reception, the Director moved to the School of Engineering for the signing ceremony, which was hosted by the Dean, Professor Kazuo Hotate. At the ceremony, Professor Hotate expressed his pleasure in concluding the agreement with such a prestigious institution as ENPC. Professor Courtier returned the courtesy, saying that this program would be extremely meaningful to students of both institutions because it would open up the opportunities for them to benefit from globalized and diverse academic curriculums. Also, Professor Koichi Maekawa explained how the idea of this exchange program had developed, while Professor Takeshi Ishihara reported how the welcome reception in the Department Civil Engineering had gone. Then, Professor Hideyuki Horii talked about the future prospects of the interchange program with ENPC. Finally, the Director and the Dean signed the agreement and made the ‘first exchange’ with memorable gifts from each other.

Professor Courtier and Professor Hotate	Signing Ceremony

Professor Courtier showed his gratitude and pleasure with his short but fruitful visit to the University of Tokyo. We, ENPC and the Department of Civil Engineering, both foresee the forthcoming success of this exchange program and believe it will develop further. Last but not least, we would like to express sincere appreciation to all faculty and staff members of both institutes who helped the agreement to realize, especially Professor Louis Sato and Associate Professor Hironori Kato .

Kazumasa Ozawa
Professor and Chairman
Department of Civil Engineering