ISATE started in 2007 as an international academic exchange between ten institutions (known as Kosen in Japan) in the Kyushu and Okinawa districts of Japan, and three polytechnics in Singapore. Its aim was to enhance the quality of engineering education in each participating institution. In 2010, all the other institutions of Kosen Japan joined the symposium under the initiative of National Institute of Technology (NIT). In 2011, two more polytechnics from Singapore joined this international exchange effort as organisers. In 2013, Nagaoka University of Technology and Toyohashi University of Technology also joined the symposium. Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) of Vocational Training Council (VTC) officially joined to become one of the ISATE Organisers in 2017, helping to expand the scope of ISATE to its present state.

• ISATE 2007 – Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2008 – National Institute of Technology, Kumamoto College, Japan

• ISATE 2009 – Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2010 – National Institute of Technology, Kagoshima College, Japan

• ISATE 2011 – Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2012 – National Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu College, Japan

• ISATE 2013 – National Institute of Technology, Nara College, Japan

• ISATE 2014 – Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2015 – National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College, Japan

• ISATE 2016 – National Institute of Technology, Sendai College, Japan

• ISATE 2017 – Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2018 – IVE Engineering Discipline, Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong

• ISATE 2019 – National Institute of Technology, Tokuyama College, Japan

• ISATE 2020 – No event due to the COVID-19 pandemic

• ISATE 2021 – Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland

• ISATE 2022 – Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore

• ISATE 2023 – National Institute of Technology, Matsue College, Japan

Matsue was founded in 1611, and is the capital of Shimane Prefecture. It is in the middle of the San-in region, which faces the Sea of Japan in the area north of the Chugoku mountain range in the Chugoku block of Japan’s main island, Honshu. Matsue is about 180km away from Hiroshima, and about 370km away from Osaka by train. 

A) Basic information about Matsue

In 1951, Matsue was designated as a City of Culture and International Tourism, along with Kyoto and Nara.

In March 2012, Matsue was designated as a special city (tokureishi), after it had merged with several other small cities and villages in the surrounding area and increased in size and population. A special city is a city with a population of at least 200,000, and is delegated a subset of the functions delegated to a core city, and there are currently 40 other such special cities throughout Japan.

B) Do you know Ruby?

Ruby is a software programming language designed by Yukihiro Matsumoto, a native of Matsue. The Ruby City project refers to efforts being made by Matsue to promote use of the Ruby programming language.

C) Eco Matsue

・No My-Car Days

One of the ways Matsue goes green is to host a “No My-Car Week,” during which time people are encouraged to use public transportation to cut down on CO2 emissions.

・Community bus

There is community bus service in order to provide a means of transportation for the elderly and handicapped, increase activity in the city center, and decrease the burden on the environment. It is provided at a minimal charge, and serves as one means of welfare service.

・Green Curtains

A Green Curtain is a curtain on the wall of a building made of plants. In summer they cut down on heat from the rays of the sun to make it easier to avoid using air conditioning. The City of Matsue also uses Green Curtains to cut down on Co2 in summer.

・Ramsar Convention

Lake Shinji, located around central Matsue, is abundant with nature. The fish and other creatures that live in it help sustain the people, and it is a crucial part of the local ecosystem. In 2005 Lake Shinji was registered as a Ramsar Site, in order to have the cooperation of the world in order to prevent its degradation and preserve it as a home to migratory birds and other species that depend on it. The list is formally called the List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Website of Matsue Convention Bureau