NEWS
UB Fellows come to ICU
Update: May 18, 2026
At International Christian University (ICU), we welcomed faculty members selected from universities across Asia for the Spring Term of Academic Year 2026 through the United Board Fellows Program (UB Fellows Program).
Supported by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UB), this program is designed to provide selected faculty members with the opportunity to stay at host institutions for one to three months. The primary objective is to undergo leadership training that will enable them to take on significant roles in the future management of their home institutions. Throughout the fellows' stay, ICU faculty members serve as mentors, providing guidance and support to ensure that the UB Fellows make the most of their experiences at ICU.
In 2026, we were honored to host the following four UB Fellows:
Dr. Smarika LAWRANCE：
Ms. J. Birunda Antoinette Mary：
Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, St. Aloysius College (India)
Specialization: Chemistry
Mentor: Professor Sabine Sandra Stephanie GOURAUD
Dr. Anson Kangirathingal JOY：
Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, CHRIST (Deemed to be University) (India)
Specialization: Commerce, Business, Finance, and Accountancy
Mentor: Professor Taisei KAIZOJI
Dr. A. Priscilla Paul：
Assistant Professor, Head of the Mathematics Department, and Assistant Controller of Examinations, Lady Doak College (India)
Specialization: Mathematics and Graph Theory
Mentor: Associate Professor Xiaoling DOU
Associate Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs in the Department of Computer Science, Stella Maris College (India)
Specialization: Computer Science and Information Science
Mentor: Associate Professor Craig Dennis HOWARD
The UB fellows stayed at ICU from March 30th to April 30th. At the beginning of their visit, they were officially welcomed by President Shoichiro Iwakiri, Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Eskildsen, and Vice President for International Academic Exchange Mark Williams. During the stay, through interviews with faculty and staff — including the Deans of the College of Liberal Arts and the Graduate School — as well as class observations, facility tours, and participation in various meetings and events, the UB fellows deepened their understanding of ICU's educational philosophy and institutional governance. At the same time, this exchange provided our own faculty and staff with a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and a chance to gain deeper insights into the current state of higher education in Asia.
ICU remains committed to deepening ties with higher education institutions across Asia through the UB Fellows Program. We will continue to share our educational and research activities broadly and further advance our contributions to global society.