On the evening of 10 October 2025, the 2025 Edward Boyle Memorial Lecture was held at Ritsumeikan University’s Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC).
This prestigious event was a collaboration between the University of Leeds and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (RSA), in partnership with RENKEI*.
The importance of global partnerships in higher education was highlighted through case studies from the RENKEI network —a consortium of leading universities in the UK and Japan, of which Ritsumeikan is a member.

The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Tatsuya Sato, Vice President of Ritsumeikan University, followed by a lecture and panel discussion chaired by Prof. Rob Sturman (University of Leeds).
The panel featured distinguished academics from RENKEI member institutions, including Prof. Hannah Brown (Durham University), Prof. Marion Hetherington (University of Leeds), Prof. Motohiro Tsuchiya (Keio University), and Prof. Toshiya Ueki (Tohoku University). Discussions highlighted the history of Japan-UK collaboration, the potential for interdisciplinary international collaboration, and their expectations for the next generation of early-career researchers. The event concluded with closing remarks delivered by Prof. Natalie Konomi, Vice President of Kyushu University.

The Edward Boyle Memorial Lecture series commemorates Sir Edward Boyle, a former UK Minister of Education and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, whose legacy continues to inspire educational advancement and international cooperation.
Following the panel, participants enjoyed a networking session, facilitating further dialogue among them. Ritsumeikan University is honored to have hosted this meaningful event and reaffirms its commitment to actively pursuing collaborative research and nurturing early-career researchers through international partnerships, including RENKEI.