A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Moral Education: University of Baghdad President Visits Chiba University

On December 5, 2025, Professor Bahaa Ansaf, President of the University of Baghdad, Iraq, paid an official visit to Chiba University’s Nishi-Chiba Campus, accompanied by his delegation and the Counselor of the Republic of Iraq in Japan. The distinguished guests were warmly welcomed by Executive Director Hiroaki Ozawa, Professor Keiko Sakai, a Director of the Center for Relational Studies on Global Crises, and Professor Daisuke Fujikawa, Dean of the Faculty of Education.

Since the establishment of the first faculty in 1908, the University of Baghdad is the oldest and largest university in Iraq and the second largest in the Arab world, playing a central role in higher education and academic research in the region. Chiba University and the University of Baghdad have enjoyed a close and productive partnership since signing an inter-university academic exchange agreement in 2017, fostering collaboration in education, research, and cultural exchange.

During the visit, the delegation toured the Junior High School affiliated with Chiba University’s Faculty of Education. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussions on moral education in Japan, as well as a meaningful exchange of views on educational philosophies, social values, and the role of education in nurturing future generations.

The visit reaffirmed the strong ties between the two universities and underscored their shared commitment to promoting mutual understanding and academic cooperation. Chiba University looks forward to further expanding exchanges with the University of Baghdad and deepening collaboration across a wide range of academic fields in the years ahead.