Eighteen awarded grants from the Watanabe Trust Fund

Eighteen students and academics from the University of Iceland and Japanese universities have been awarded grants from the University of Iceland Watanabe Trust Fund. 

A total of nine students at the University of Iceland receive grants for exchange studies at seven partner universities for the academic year 2024-2025. Furthermore, two Japanese students receive grants to study at the University of Iceland. Grants for academics can be used for a research stay at various Japanese science institutes or the University of Iceland. The total funding allocated this year is almost ISK 12 million.  

This is the fourteenth allocation from the fund established to foster academic links between Iceland and Japan. It was launched with a donation of USD 5 million from the entrepreneur and friend of Iceland Toshizo Watanabe; one of the largest monetary donations the University has ever received from an individual. 

The grant recipients, or their representatives, accepted the grants at a festive ceremony at the University’s Ceremonial hall. The fund’s founder, Toshizo Watanabe, could unfortunately not attend. Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland, chaired the event with Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, assistant professor at the Faculty of Languages and Cultures. They both addressed the ceremony as well as the Japanese ambassador to Iceland, Ryotaro Suzuki, and Geir H. Haarde, former Prime Minister and ambassador. 

A call for applications was sent out at the beginning of the year and a total of 32 applications were received for consideration. This year’s grantees are:

University of Iceland students awarded a scholarship to study in Japan

• Árni Valur Þorsteinsson, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at  Osaka Gakuin University.
• Áróra Gunnarsdóttir, BA Student in Sociology to study at International Christian University.
• Ásgeir Rafn Sigurðsson, BA Student in Psychology, to study at Seinan Gakuin University.
• Bjarki Már Ólafsson, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at International Christian University.
• Elvar Pierre Kjartansson, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at Nagoya University.
• Heiðrún Gréta Viktorsdóttir, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at Kyoto University.
• Þórhildur Bogadóttir, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at Kansai Gaidai University.
• Ægir Björn Frostason, BA Student in Japanese language and culture to study at Kwansei Gakuin University.  
• Vincent Elijiah Merida, Ph.D. student in Environment and Natural Resources to study at Kyoto University.

Japanese students awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Iceland

• Haki Hohjoh, BA Student in History of Science at Tokyo University. 
• Seina Egawa, BA Student in Public Policy at International Christian University. 

Icelandic academics awarded a grant to conduct research in Japan

• Alberto Caracciolo, Post Doc in Earth Sciences, to conduct research at JAMSTEC.        
• Benjamin David Hennig, Professor in Geography, to conduct research at Ritsumeikan University and Tohoku University. 
• Branislav Bédi, Project Manager in Icelandic as a Second Language, to conduct research at Tokai University.
• Geir Sigurðsson, Professor in Chinese Studies and Intercultural Philosophy, to conduct research at Meiji University. 
• Gregory Phipps, Professor in English Literature, to conduct research at Sophia University. 
• Hanna Ragnardóttir, Professor in Multicultural Studies, to conduct research at Asahikawa City University. 

Japanese academic awarded a grant to conduct research at the University of Iceland

• Stefanie Stadler, Professor in  Intercultural Communication at Doshisha University. 

The board of the Watanabe Trust Fund is Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, lecturer at the Faculty of Languages and Cultures and chair of the board, Toshizo "Tom" Watanabe, founder of the fund, and Geir H. Haarde, former Prime Minister and ambassador.