Inter-academic exchanges between universities in different countries are a very widespread practice at the global level, with many exchanges of this kind paving the way for economic or trade relations between the respective states. Of course, the immediate benefit is that of students who can expand their knowledge and experience different cultures and ways of life, but the institutions that they belong to and that initiate these exchanges also retain certain benefits, including exposure and most importantly financing.
In this respect, the direction taken by the Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj was a very fortunate one, Japan and implicitly the University of Kobe (UBB’s direct partner) being a destination of interest for both students and the business environment. The benefits go both ways as any such contact increases the possibility of investments from one country to the other and this is likely to engage a whole range of stakeholders into a matter. For example, JETRO (Japan Foreign Trade Organization) representatives and the Japanese People's Business Association in Romania decided to organize one of their regular meetings in Cluj-Napoca, in light of this academic partnership, the meeting being the first time such a forum reunites outside of Bucharest.
In addition, a Japanese cultural center has been functioning in Cluj for some time, its purpose being, among others, to promote Japanese culture in Romania. Automatically, within such a forum, businesses, products or services from the partnering country may be promoted, thus making them better known to the general public. A similar strategy may be adopted by the partnering country, in our case Japan, thus stimulating bilateral exchanges between the two states. The universities' fame and recognition also broadens on account of these relations, so theoretically all the parties involved in such exchanges have something to gain.
Sources:
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2017_11_07_01.html
Claudiu Bolcu
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