SYLFF Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary.

TOKYO -- 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.