SYLFF Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary

On January 16th, a ceremony was held at the University of
Copenhagen to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Ryoichi Sasakawa
Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF). Created in 1987 by The Nippon
Foundation, the largest private grant-making foundation in Japan, this
unique endowment scheme has to date provided endowments of US$1
million each to 69 universities and consortia (a total of 88
institutions) in 45 countries.

Under this scheme, universities invest their endowments and use
the earnings to provide fellowships to postgraduate students pursuing
degrees in the social sciences, humanities and performing arts. To
date, more than 9,000 outstanding postgraduate students with
leadership potential have received SYLFF fellowships.

The recipients of these fellowships remain SYLFF fellows
throughout their lifetime. Through this affiliation, they are offered
various collaborative opportunities, such as joint research and social
action projects that transcend geopolitical, ethnic, religious,
academic and professional boundaries.

The University of Copenhagen, founded in 1479 and the largest
Danish institution of higher learning, received its SYLFF endowment in
1991. The large audience, nearly 120 people, at the ceremony was
addressed by such speakers as Bertel Haarder, the Danish Minister of
Education, Ralf Hemmingsen, Rector of the University of Copenhagen and
Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa. During his speech, Mr.
Sasakawa noted, "The existence of a SYLFF network connecting the world
has the potential to enable fellows to become enormously influential
by allowing them to demonstrate their capabilities in their different
fields."

Speeches were also made by two of three SYLFF Prize winners in
2004, including Goran Svilanovic, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
for Serbia and Montenegro, who was selected for his longstanding and
ongoing leadership, and for his human rights efforts.

Following the celebration, representatives of SYLFF-endowed
institutions participated in a four-day meeting to strengthen
collaboration and interaction among SYLFF institutions and fellows,
and to address the challenges of globalization and higher education.