Following the recent visit of Dr. Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of the the internationally renowned multidisciplinary journal Nature, Mr. Frank Vrancken Peeters, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Springer Nature, the publisher of Nature, visited Keio University on Thursday, April 23, and held a meeting with President Kohei Itoh to exchange views.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Itoh introduced the history of Keio University and its long-standing academic ties with the Netherlands. Since its founding in 1858, Keio has maintained strong international engagement, rooted in the work of its founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, who studied Dutch learning (Rangaku) and played a key role in introducing Western knowledge to Japan. This historical background highlighted the university’s long tradition of fostering global academic exchange.
During the discussion, the participants exchanged views on the evolving global environment surrounding academic publishing. In particular, Mr. Peeters shared perspectives from the publishing sector regarding the growing influence of scientific communication on society and public policy. Experiences were also discussed regarding how scientific publications can sometimes become associated with political debate in different regions. In addition, both parties noted the significant impact that scientific reporting and research indicators can have on national research policies and funding decisions.
The conversation also addressed challenges in research human resource development in Japan and Europe. Topics included support systems and working conditions for doctoral students, the importance of creating welcoming environments for international researchers, and the need to support early-career researchers in building sustainable career paths. The participants shared the view that strengthening international collaboration will be essential for enhancing research competitiveness in the future.
Through this exchange, both parties reaffirmed the important roles played by universities and academic publishers in supporting scientific advancement and gained deeper insights into opportunities for future international collaboration in research and education.