At Kobe University, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Vice Presidents Hisashi Tamaki and Christina Hansen, as well as Dean Kiyoshi Umeya. An exchange agreement between various faculties of both institutions was also initiated. At Osaka Metropolitan University, the delegation—together with Vice President Hiroyuki Sakuragi, Prof. Dr. Kemma Tsujino, and representatives of the International Office—worked on establishing the corresponding contractual framework for future collaboration.

Kobe University already partner in "global.trex"

A key focus of the partnership with both universities is on teacher education. Kobe University is already a partner in Passau’s mobility program for teaching students, “global.trex.” Starting in 2026, students will be able to complete a DAAD-funded semester abroad there, which includes a school internship at the university’s affiliated campus school. In addition, further funding and exchange programs were initiated during the discussions at both institutions.

Since 2024, teaching students from the University of Passau have been regularly supported during internships at the German International School in Kobe. During the delegation's visit, a group of Passau student interns was already on-site. They were warmly welcomed by Prof. Dr. Hiro Inoue and students of Kobe University, along with Christina Hansen and Kathrin Eveline Plank, and invited on a campus and city tour. 

There is also an active research and teaching collaboration between staff members of the Japanese institutions and the Chair of Education with a focus on diversity studies and educational spaces in middle childhood at the University of Passau. In this context, the delegation’s visit also served to prepare a joint teaching format on Holocaust education and to engage in a comparative spatial research project