Welcoming Speech

Good morning! My name is J.P. Phillips, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone here on behalf of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. I’d also like to thank Chancellor DePaolo for allowing me to come and speak to you today and also to thank everyone who took part in organizing this event. We gather today to discuss the tremendous opportunity of an exchange program between UNCW and the highly prestigious Kyoto University.

Kyoto University strives for excellence in transmitting a high-quality education while promoting independent and interactive learning. Here at UNCW we strive for no less within our many programs of study in the fields of Marine Science, Accounting, Communication Studies, International Affairs, and many more subjects of interest. UNCW has recently been ranked sixth in the US News & World Reports’ for top public universities in the Southern United States and has consistently been named one of the best schools in the Southeast by The Princeton Review.

UNCW also strives to have a diverse campus and offers many programs to make all feel “at home” with appearances by national and international performers in art, film, and music as well as a wide range of public speakers who specialize in a variety of topics. By creating these amazing exchange programs, we hope to further our own diversity and enrich the educational experience by students of both universities.

Both universities have so much to offer students through this exchange program which is why we feel so honored for this exciting new program. I would like to thank the visiting delegation from Kyoto University for being here today and thank you all for your time and attention. We look forward to the start of this program and the exciting opportunities that will come with it.

Thank you!