Welcoming Speech

Good afternoon faculty, staff, students and diplomats of Kyoto University. My name is David Harwood, and I’m an eager senior here at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, majoring in Communication Studies. Before I continue, I want to express my gratitude, as it is my honor and privilege to be speaking with you today and in front of our gracious Chancellor, who made all this possible, Rosemary DePaulo. On behalf of each and every one of us here at UNCW, we welcome you with same appreciation, admiration, and hospitality that our implausible university is associated with.

On June 18, 1867, a life altering idea was put into action, when Kyoto University first opened up its doors. Since then, the second oldest university in Japan is recognized as one of the top two schools in it’s home country and ranked 25^th overall, in 2009’s Academic Ranking of World Universities. This beautiful three-campus university is home to over 22,000 students and 5,367 staff members. I don’t think I speak for myself when I say we are more than thrilled to be sharing educational opportunities with an establishment as fine and rich in history as Kyoto University.

Student exchange is an incredible opportunity for all parties involved. It will give the current students a chance to learn outside of their comfort zone, and enjoy the excellent heritage associated with both schools. Diversity is a key element to the foundation of a successful university. This exchange program will, no doubt, prove to be any different.

Here at UNCW, we pride ourselves on employing a faculty that understands their prime objective is to prepare our students for the next big step in life. From first hand knowledge, I can tell you the professors and staff here at our university do all they can to make the college experience as enjoyable and family oriented as possible. I feel the exchange program will be no different. UNCW has over 400 study abroad programs ranging in 50 different countries! We are one of the fastest growing universities in the state and offer many opportunities to make sure the students fulfill their destinies, all the while enjoying what they do!

Our Center for Marine Science is one of the leading departments at UNCW and is recognized as a national site for conducting research that contributes to understanding environmental processes and problems. While being right on the Intracoastal Waterway, our new $17.5 million building has docking facilities and offers 100,000 ft of indoor space! In addition, we have over 100 active research programs and over 140 scientists, staff, and students on hand.

Our campus may not be as large as Kyoto’s, but our heart and determination to be the best we can is very comparable. The university is the center of our beautiful town; 10 minutes from the beach and 10 minutes from downtown! The sizes of the classrooms are a bit smaller, but more attention and time will be focused on the student and their educational needs. And one last thing; if anyone from Kyoto happens to get a little homesick, go out by our clock tower and hang out with the students. It’s almost identical to Kyoto’s!

Through my research, Kyoto University and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington has many things in common. Both offer outstanding programs to the students, have a reputation that is rich in history, and offer a commitment to the students that they WILL succeed in our respective institutes.

Again, I want to thank everyone here today. Representatives of Kyoto University, UNCW, Chancellor DePaulo, and all our students and staff, it has been my pleasure to speak with you this afternoon. Let’s bring these two universities together for the better of our future.