The 7th International Research Seminar for FY2023, jointly hosted by MIC, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, and CAREM, Graduate School of Business Administration, was held on January 16.

　In January 2024, our university welcomed Visiting Professor Ferdinand A. Gul, a distinguished academic and the Discipline Lead in Accounting, Finance, and Economics at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

　Formerly the Alfred Deakin Professor of Accounting and Finance at the Deakin Business School, Australia, Professor Gul holds the honor of being an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Renowned for his research, he ranks 7th globally in the US Brigham Young world accounting scale for archival research in empirical auditing. His work is published in top-tier journals, including the Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, The Accounting Review, Contemporary Accounting Research, Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance, Accounting Organizations and Society, and Management Science.

　During his visit, Professor Gul engaged with our faculty in individual meetings, exploring collaborative research opportunities. On January 16, he delivered a seminar titled "Ideas and Opportunities for Accounting and Finance Research," drawing participation from both faculty members and research students. The seminar proved enlightening, providing valuable insights and inspiration for our academic community. Professor Gul's visit not only enriched our intellectual environment but also opened doors for potential future collaborations between our institution and the University of the Sunshine Coast.