Stellenbosch -  Dr. Darla K. Deardorff, renowned expert in intercultural competence and UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competences at Stellenbosch University, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). As part of the fellowship, Dr. Deardorff will spend time at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, engaging in a series of high-impact academic and intercultural initiatives.

During her fellowship, Dr. Deardorff will lead intercultural workshops, deliver lectures on intercultural competence, and advise graduate students conducting research in related fields. Her visit aims to strengthen international collaboration and promote deeper understanding of intercultural issues in academic and societal contexts.

In addition to her activities at Tohoku University, Dr. Deardorff will meet with her UNESCO Chair counterpart, Professor Atsufumi Yokoi of Okayama University, to explore future synergies between their respective UNESCO Chair programs and advance their shared commitment to global citizenship education.

Dr. Deardorff will also serve as a keynote speaker at an upcoming UNESCO Conference on Sustainability in Okoyama, where she will address the vital connections between intercultural competence and sustainable development—reinforcing the role of education in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to collaborate with esteemed colleagues in Japan,” said Dr. Deardorff. “This fellowship offers a valuable platform to expand intercultural dialogue, support emerging scholars, and explore how intercultural competence is essential to building a more sustainable and peaceful world.”

The JSPS Fellowship is one of Japan’s most prestigious academic awards for international scholars, aimed at fostering global research collaboration and academic exchange.

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