Within the Sakura Science Exchange Program, which is conducted by the Japan Agency for Science and Technology, a group of students of Chernihiv Polytechnic National University and an Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Accounting and Taxation, PhD in Economics Kateryna Hnedina took part in the International Winter Seminar 2023, during which the students familiarized the participants with the peculiarities of the university’s activities and achievements, and the Associate Professor, PhD in Economics Kateryna Hnedina presented the results of research on the topic “Renewable energy development in Ukraine: modern challenges and prospects in the context of decarbonization of energy sector”, highlighting in the report the most urgent issues of the modern world – ensuring energy security and ways of decarbonization of the energy sector, as well as focusing attention on the directions of its reconstruction in Ukraine and prospects for the development of renewable energy.

Higher education students of the Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, together with students of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany) and the University of Turin (Italy) had a great opportunity to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the activities of universities and research institutes in Japan. In particular, the participants of the program visited the Engineering Faculty of Yamagata University, the faculty of natural sciences, UGAS Iwate University, the Institute of Forestry and learned about the concept of decarbonization, the application of data learning in natural sciences, the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis on local communities. Visiting the Tsunami Museum was also an impressive and informative experience.

The Sakura Science program has become a great tool for collaboration between universities and research institutions. It provided an opportunity for students and lecturers from various universities to learn about the scientific achievements and specifics of Yamagata University’s activities, the culture of Japan, which is very important for the development of the scientific community, exchange of experience and knowledge.

We express our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the Sakura Science Exchange Program, Professor Larry Lopez from the Faculty of Agriculture for the successful implementation of the exchange program and wish all participants new achievements, success in further scientific research and the development of cooperation between universities.

We are happy to share with you the impressions of the participants:

“Despite the difficult and long road, it was an impressive and very fulfilling trip. I was incredibly impressed by the environmental education of the Japanese, their dedication to preserving nature, reducing the negative impact on the environment, and their readiness to coexist with the relentless elements. It was an important experience for me as an environmentalist and a vivid example that Ukraine should emulate in implementing the concept of sustainable development.” (Olesia Berezhnyk, student majoring in Ecology).

“The trip was difficult, but the program was interesting, especially hearing about the tsunami and seeing the consequences. It was interesting to learn how this nation tries to tame the elements by adapting and modifying cities.” (Valerii Andrienko, student majoring in Marketing).

“Japan impresses with its technologies, lifestyle and, in particular, its careful attitude to the environment. The Sakura program was aimed at sharing the experiences of people from many countries around the world (Germany, Japan, Italy). The main idea of the program was the realization that the future of our planet depends on all of us.” (Kristina Aksiutenko, student majoring in Construction and Civil Engineering).

“Japan is a very beautiful, modern and interesting country. I really liked the Sakura program, because I saw a lot of incredibly beautiful places, learned a lot of interesting things for my agronomy profession, and I was also very impressed by the culture of Japan and how seriously they take ecology. This is a very useful experience for me.” (Anna Piskova, student majoring in Agronomy).