Japanese

President

Monte CASSIM

President, Akita International University

Profile

1947Born in Colombo, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
1970B.Sc. Built Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Sri Lanka, Colombo
1974-1981
Research Fellow and Coordinator, Group Asia 80 Program, Japan Center for Area Development Research
1976M.Eng. (Urban Engineering), Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
1976-1977Lecturer and Secretary of the Committee for Graduate School Establishment, University Sains Malaysia
1980-1984Architect at Design Management Division, Design Department, Mitsui Construction Ltd.
1982Withdrawal from the Doctoral Program with the Completion of Course Requirements of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
1985-1994Senior Research Fellow (U.N. Expert) and Program Coordinator, United Nations Center for Regional Development
1994-2018Professor, Ritsumeikan University
2004-2009President, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
2004-2012Vice Chancellor, Ritsumeikan Trust
2013-2014Special Aide to the Chancellor, Ritsumeikan Trust
2014-2017Member, Board of Councilors, Ritsumeikan Trust
2014-2021Executive Trustee, Akita International University
2015-2018Assistant Trustee, Ritsumeikan Trust
2018-2021President, Trustee and Professor, Shizenkan University
2018-2023Senior Advisor, Ritsumeikan Trust
2021-presentPresident (Chair of the Board), Akita International University
Other prominent posts including University Council Executive Trustee of Vietnam-Japan University, Chairman of the Board of Councilors of Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Publications

  • Concepts of Sustainability (Chapter 2: An introduction to sustainability science, (Horitsu Bunka Sha, 2013)). He has also given many lectures at the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science(SLAAS)and universities in Japan and abroad and more.
  • In 2016, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure [Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon] from the Government of Japan for his contribution to the promotion of private education in Japan and his continuous efforts to promote mutual understanding between Sri Lanka and Japan.
  • In 2017 he received a National Honours Lifetime Award (Vidya Nidhi) for Contributions to science and technology by the Government of Sri Lanka.