Study in Japan Fair 2015 in Indonesia
On November 14 and 15, Study in Japan Fair 2015 was held in Surabaya and Jakarta in Indonesia under the auspices of the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).
The purpose of the fair is to provide Indonesian students who are interested with information on study in Japan and Japanese higher education, and to help them choose an appropriate school and ensure a productive period of study in Japan. As many as 1,190 students (1,682 last year) visited the Surabaya venue, while 4,115 students (2,856 last year) visited the Jakarta venue.
More than 100 students visited the Kumamoto University booth at each venue. University staff, including local staff members, explained the procedures needed to study in Japan in English and Indonesian, using brochures, posters and the university’s YouTube channel.
Some Indonesians who experienced study in Kumamoto University visited the Jakarta venue and enjoyed a reunion with the university staff. They provided us with great support and valuable advice based on their experiences in Japan.
Kumamoto University has concluded five university-level exchange agreements and two department-level exchange agreements with Indonesian universities, including the Consortium of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember and Airlangga University. We have had active exchanges with those universities, and welcomed 71 students from Indonesia during the 2014 academic year. In April 2010, we established the “Kumamoto University Liaison Office at ITS” in the campus of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS). The local staff promotes student and academic exchange activities and supports students who are preparing to study at Kumamoto University.
This Study in Japan Fair is expected to help raise awareness of our university in Indonesia and increase the number of students who wish to study in Kumamoto.
Japan Tag 2015 – Research and Study in Japan – at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in Germany
On November 5, 2015, Japan Tag 2015 – Research and Study in Japan – organized by the Bonn Office of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), was held in Heinrich Heine University (HHU) in the German city of Düsseldorf.
The purpose of this fair was to promote study in Japan and to provide students and researchers from HHU and other institutions in Germany with information concerning study-in-Japan programs, research systems and higher education research so that they can choose appropriate destinations to study and accomplish productive research in Japan. Twenty universities and research institutions from Japan set up booths in HHU to provide information. The venue was visited by about 400 people, and was crowded all day.
Topics relating to mutual exchanges between Japan and Germany were on the agenda for the seminar. They included a lecture titled “The Internationalization of German and Japanese Higher Education.” Interestingly, a German higher education staff member explained the Top Global University Project launched by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), while a Japanese researcher explained the status of higher education in Germany. This ability to explain each other’s education systems demonstrates that the two countries already have a deep mutual understanding and a good relationship. Subsequently, Japanese universities and research institutions delivered brief introductions while German participants took notes with interest.
Approximately 100 students and researchers visited the Kumamoto University booth. The staff at the booth talked about the university and the procedures needed to study in KU using brochures, posters, the official website and YouTube.
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf has five faculties: (1) Business Administration and Economics, (2) Arts and Humanities, (3) Law, (4) Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and (5) Medicine. It also is home to the University Hospital and the Department of Modern Japanese Studies, where students study the Japanese language. Several of the students who visited the KU booth expressed their interest in studying, especially in the graduate schools of medicine, health, and pharmaceutical sciences and the Japanese language courses of KU. We were impressed by their strong desire to study at KU. We fully expect to use this opportunity to further exchanges with students and researchers at HHU and other universities in Germany.
Takashi Hiyama, Distinguished Professor of Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, talking about KU
University Research Administrator explaining researcher exchange programs
KU staff talking about studying at KU
Study in Japan Fair 2015 in Vietnam
Kumamoto University participated in the Study in Japan Fair 2015 in Vietnam. The events were organized by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and held in Hanoi on October 31 (Sat) and Ho Chi Minh City on November 1 (Sun), 2015.
This fair had two main features: (1) an overall seminar, including explanations of Japanese government scholarships and testimonials of students who have studied in Japan, and (2) individual consultations provided by each participating institution. As many as 1,405 students who hope to study in Japan (1,396 last year) visited the Hanoi Venue, while 1,433 students (1,265 last year) visited Ho Chi Minh City Venue.
Approximately 100 institutions participated in the fair, and about 200 students visited our booth over two days. We talked to them about Kumamoto, the advantages of our university and the procedures needed to come and study in our universities in English, with interpretation assistance.
Most of the students have never been to Japan, nor do they know the location of Kyushu, let alone Kumamoto. However, since many are already studying at Japanese language schools in Vietnam, the brochures written in Japanese were the first to run out. We received many questions about our curriculum, entrance examination system and scholarships, and the students showed their positive intentions to study in Japan.
This fair was a great public relations opportunity, a chance to introduce our university to enthusiastic Vietnamese students.
Reference URL (JASSO website)
http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/info_fair_vietnam_2015.html
Opening ceremony
Individual consultation booths
Individual consultation at KU booth
Airlangga University Japanese Language Teachers Visit the Director of the College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies
On October 26, 2015, Japanese language teacher delegates from the Department of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Airlangga University (Indonesia) paid a courtesy visit to the Director of the College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies.
Kumamoto University and Airlangga University have had active student exchanges since the conclusion of a university-level exchange agreement that was signed in 2013, during the Kumamoto University Forum Surabaya, Indonesia. Since the following year, Kumamoto University has accepted Japanese Studies Students (Japanese government-funded foreign students with embassy recommendations) and undergraduate exchange students.
Those from the two universities exchanged their views about the present status of Japanese language education at each university, and how best to deepen university-level cooperation in the future. Both sides reaffirmed their further promotion of exchange activities.
The delegates also observed Japanese language classes at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture, College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies for three days from October 26 to 28, 2015. This was followed by a discussion and workshop for the Indonesian teachers, where they put their observations into practice under the guidance of the Center’s Japanese language teachers. They expressed their gratitude and remarked that they would like to further improve Japanese language education at their university by using the Japanese language teaching methods learned through this experience. Their visit was a truly fruitful base for future exchanges between the two universities.
Three Japanese language teachers from Airlangga University (front, from right) and Director Takashima of College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies (front left)
Kumamoto University participates in the 2015 Japan Study Abroad Fair in Myanmar
On September 29, the 2015 Japan Study Abroad Fair, sponsored by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), was held in Yangon, Myanmar.
This fair was organized to promote studying abroad in Japan and provide information for students in Myanmar so that they may find their way to a fruitful study abroad experience. 30 educational institutions from Japan (12 national universities and 8 private) participated, along with others. Prospective international students numbered 1,081 for the day, greatly surpassing last year’s attendance record of 707.
Throughout the entire venue information was provided about study abroad programs and experiences, and at individual booths, educational institutions provided private consultations and material distribution.
Also, many students visited University booths, where they were introduced to study abroad programs via University websites and official videos on YouTube.
At the end of the fair, a lottery was held in which participants had a chance to win items such as T-shirts, provided by participating universities.
Through this fair, universities were able to provide the students of Myanmar with motivation for studying abroad in Japan. With this opportunity, improvement of awareness of universities in Myanmar can be expected.
Opening Ceremony
Private Booths
International Affairs Division staff explain study abroad procedures at a booth
Kumadai Global Youth Campus Summer Festa
The College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies held its first “Summer Festa” on August 8 during Kumamoto University’s Open Campus.
Over 100 high school students from over 30 different high schools around Kyushu came to enjoy the events, which included presentations from Japanese university students who have recently returned from study-abroad, international exchange games, and a Skype session with Japanese students currently studying abroad at Newcastle University in Australia.
High school students who participated were able to talk directly with international exchange students as well as Japanese students with study abroad experience, giving them the opportunity to explore their options and deepen their interest in becoming global citizens.
Summer Festa is one part of Kumamoto University’s “Kumadai Global Youth Campus”, a new project which strives to bring international experience and education to the future students of Kumamoto University.
Summer Program 2015 – International Students Experience Yukata and Tea Ceremony
Kumamoto University’s Summer Program 2015 welcomed 36 students from China, Korea, Taiwan and the U.S.A. to Kumamoto University for two weeks of university lectures, educational excursions and cultural experiences.
On August 4, the program’s participants were instructed by the Contemporary Japanese Dress Volunteer Group on how to wear yukata, traditional summer clothing. The Kumamoto University International Exchange Support Volunteer Group also assisted with the event, helping with hair and makeup and also furthering the international exchange that began with their hosting the program participants for a day of Japanese cultural experience earlier in the program.
Kumamoto University’s Tea Ceremony club provided further cultural enrichment through a demonstration of tea-making, and also provided an opportunity for the international students to take part in the ceremony.
The concerted effort and kind instruction from each volunteer group resulted in an unforgettable experience that these 36 international students will keep with them for the rest of their lives.
Global Youth Campus, 2015 Summer Program in English International Exchange Event
On July 29, 2015, 36 international students – participants in the 2015 Summer Program in English at Kumamoto University – joined 33 high school students from around the prefecture for an international exchange event as part of Kumamoto University’s “Global Youth Campus” project.
The international students came from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. The high school participants joined us from Daini High School, Aso Chuo High School, and Kamoto High School.
During the event, the 36 international students first gave short presentations based on their lectures about and experiences at Lake Ezu, Suizenji Park, Kumamoto Castle, Mt. Aso and Minamata. In the second half of the event, the high school students and international students enjoyed free conversation regarding international culture, language, and experiences.
We are looking forward to creating more opportunities for the youth of Kumamoto Prefecture to experience global education and interaction through Kumamoto University’s Global Youth Campus.
