Eng iwi, e ng reo, e ng karangatanga maha o ng hau e wh, tnei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa.

　

It is a pleasure to welcome so many people here today from all parts of the world from different backgrounds and different persuasions.

　

I am very pleased to welcome you here today.

　

Mr. Sasakawa, Mr. Iyama, Mr. Kusaka and Distinguished Guests.

　

Ellen and the staff of the Scholarship Division of The Tokyo Foundation. Colleagues and Friends from all the SYLFF endowed universities - that ever expanding, international family of outstanding tertiary institutions.

　

I am delighted to see you all again and I am honoured to have been invited to speak on your behalf.

　

This is an auspicious occasion because we are acknowledging that 15 years ago, the SYLFF programme was launched with the first endowment to the Hetcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1987.

　

Since then the number of endowments has steadily expanded to include 65 universities and consortia in 43 countries. In that regard, I still clearly recall the endowment of my own University - Massey University - and the visit of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa to celebrate the occasion. That must have been a good year because there were 11 other endowments in 1991, including Howard University and the University of Copenhagen - two institutions Massey has been developing links with. I am sure you all have similar memories. This year we welcome the latest members of the family: the University of Latvia, the University of Chile and Ateneo de Manila University.

　

It is, then, fitting that we are meeting here in Tokyo, the home of the Foundation in order to build on the earlier meetings in Beijing, Barcelona, Vancouver, Uppsala and San Diego - to reflect on what has been achieved and to examine the opportunities and challenges ahead. It is also a time to address achievements, identify short comings, and to try and frame realistic, shared goals for the future.

　

Surely, the vision that inspired SYLFF from the beginning remains strong: to provide financial support and opportunities for the best and brightest graduate students in our universities - and in doing so to identify and help to mould future leaders for the societies of which they are a part, and possibly beyond in the wider world.

　

It is worth noting that after 15 years, emboldened by that vision, there are now some 8,500 SYLFF fellows who have graduated or are currently enrolled. Is this really a resource of creativity, ability and potential leaders - the world is in urgent need of it? Time and our collective efforts will tell.

　

And it is also worth noting - and profoundly appreciating - that this resource that is always in a state of becoming has been made possible by the investment of 65 million US dollars in endowments and additional millions of dollars by way of return on those investments. The Tokyo Foundation, and especially the Scholarship Division, has also continuously provided extra financial and administrative support by way of JREX awards, Administrator and Faculty Exchange Programmes and Forum grants.

　

The last mentioned, reminds me of the collaboration achieved in the international forum on race, development and inequality convened last year in Washington DC as a result of the efforts of Orlando Taylor , Wayne Patterson and that great team at Howard University. This Forum included SYLFF fellows from Howard, the University of Western Cape, York University, the University of Sao Paulo and Massey University. The fact that the Forum went ahead in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11 is credit to all those involved. We all benefited greatly from the Forum - and the benefits and networking continue. This surely must continue to be an important feature of the SYLFF programme.

　

Colleagues, these programmes - and the new follow-up initiatives Ellen adumbrated yesterday - comprise an enormous investment in human capital that is ongoing if we can make them work in the years ahead. These things said, what is it that binds us together? Let me suggest the following:

　

・A continued commitment to that shared vision framed back in 1987.

・A commitment to excellence in advanced learning and research.

・A commitment to continuous improvement that draws wisdom from the experience of the past years and insight from the challenges of the present in order to address the opportunities in the future.

　

We are from different countries, different cultures and backgrounds and diverse universities, but we do have a common bond of shared ideas and core values that are catalysed by our membership of the SYLFF family. This meeting here in Tokyo exemplifies that.

　

There is a Maori proverb:

Ehara te pae i te tawhiti rawa

Ki ng mea kei te reri

　

No horizon is too far for those properly prepared.

　

This week let us think together about those horizons in order to work out how we can collectively prepare to progress toward them.

　

This evening in acknowledging the generosity of the Foundation over the years, I invite you to reaffirm the vision of 15 years ago.

　

・To recommit to membership of the SYLFF family and to the values that embodies.

・To see if we can develop mutually beneficial strategies for the way ahead and to agree to work together to make them happen.

　

Today's world is significantly different from 1987; moreover, the challenges we all confront are more profound and complex than ever before. Dangers and threats abound in domains previously deemed to be safe; regrettably these things seem to fuel simplistic and dangerous responses - but surely there are also opportunities for leadership of the kind that we collectively seek to encourage and develop in our Fellows. in the total scheme of things this may seem minor - but it is vital for the future - for it is a contribution, albeit modest, to the peace we all claim to seek.

　

I sense that to varying degrees the universities in your countries are like those in New Zealand, under significant pressures. Typically, these relate to resources - especially the lack of them, mounting expectations and demands from governments for greater involvement in strategic national development. Such demands threaten standards and may endanger the core values of academia. We should not falter - we must not falter - in our respective efforts to pursue them. Dare I suggest that the SYLFF family network, to which we should apply ourselves to further developing, may be an additional source of strength in that task.

　

Are we prepared to go forward to the next 15 years in that spirit? You must decide.

　

Before concluding I would like to, on your behalf, thank Ellen and all the hardworking team for all of the meticulous arrangements they have made to

get us to Tokyo for this the 6^th meeting of SYLFF Administrators. Their hospitality and unfailing courtesy is very much appreciated and they are wonderfully friendly people to boot!

　

I salute you all and your behalf commend The Tokyo Foundation, especially the Scholarship Division for its continuing outstanding support to us all.

　

Tena kotou, tena kotou, tena kotou katoa

Kia Kaha

Ake Ake Ake