The importance of training human resources for effectively addressing issues close at hand is widely known. Japan has indicated that it may launch a training program in Tokyo on a trial basis next year. The details have yet to be finalized, but a roughly two-week course for mid-level staff from various organizations is envisioned.
The Nippon Foundation has long been involved in ocean-related human resource training, partnering with the world’s leading universities and research institutions, as well as with national governments, NGOs, and U.N.-affiliated organizations. To date, these programs have trained more than 1,300 persons from 130 countries in a broad range of ocean-related fields. This was also a major theme of the summit.
Speaking at the opening session on November 20, The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa remarked, “This second Coast Guard Global Summit will be an important opportunity to bring together and share wisdom and experiences from each country to find the most effective way for the coast guards around the world to share information and to act in close coordination and to formulate a diverse international action plan to reduce the damages that we inflict on our ocean.” He added, “If actions are declared in areas that The Nippon Foundation can collaborate, we are ready to offer our support.”
Speaking at the closing session, The Nippon Foundation Executive Director Mitsuyuki Unno mentioned human resource training as well, noting that even if programs are relatively short, he would like to use them to facilitate networking among scientists and to deepen discussion on important topics.