Funding was provided to support Newcastle University’s Membership of the RENKEI Network and related activities.

With the Promoting Excellence: International Partnerships Fund award in 2015-16, we:

• Continued membership of the RENKEI network
• Lauren Powell (Sociology PHD) attended UK-Japan workshop at UCL (August 2015)
• PI attended inaugural RENKEI Operations Meeting (London, Sept 2015)
• John Fitzgerald attended RENKEI AGM in Tokyo (Oct 2015)
• PI and Prof. Robin Humphrey attended RENKEI Operations meeting (Bristol, Dec 2015)
• Dr Lisa Newton (Ageing Institute), though unavoidably unable to attend Osaka workshop, will attend 2^nd leg in Liverpool (July 2016)

The main outcomes/outputs of the project were:

• Reputational enhancement of membership of the RENKEI network leading to a strong and growing link with network members, especially Osaka University
• Lauren Powell – researcher development and opportunities to network. Growing the Newcastle RENKEI alumni network. See http://www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/about/news/item/lauren-powell-reports-on-renkei.
• RENKEI Operations group – influencing the criteria for RENKEI workshop applications and strengthening links with British Council, Japan. Plans for the group to further develop a RENKEI website with potential for sharing resources and maximising profile raising.
• Engaging Prof. John Fitzgerald as Newcastle RENKEI champion (RENKEI Steering Group member) and raising the profile of Newcastle with SIN, Japan. Leading to an approach from the director asking to learn more about Newcastle’s famously good links with Japan and our areas of particular research strength.
• Engaged NUIA in RENKEI building on their strong links with Japan with new partners.

Dr Elisa Lawson (Research & Enterprise Services)