Japanese Language Course for Beginners
Kumamoto University will start a special Japanese Language Course for beginners which is open to the university students/faculty/researchers and their spouses. In this course, we will focus on the second half of the contents of the textbook “Marugoto”.
Period: August 28 to September 21, 2018
Day and Time: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10:00AM～12:00PM
Place: Classroom 2A on the 2nd floor of General Education Building
(Kumamoto University Kurokami North Campus)
Eligibility: Those who satisfy all the following conditions.
(1) Have joined Japanese Language Course for Beginners before or have equal ability level.
(2) Are Kumamoto University Student/Faculty/Researchers or their spouses.
(3) Can attend all 12 classes.
Fixed Number: up to 10 people (The minimum number of the participants is 4.)
*There will be a selection if the number of application exceed the capacity.
You need to take a test about the contents of the first half of the textbook.
Fee: FREE (Textbooks (around 2,000 yen) must be purchased by participants)
Level: Beginner
Application Deadline: August 3(Fri.) 5:00 p.m.
How to apply: Download the application form and submit the application form by email to glc@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Contact: College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies
TEL: 096-342-2138 Email: glc@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Japanese Language Course poster
The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (Mexico) established a university exchange agreement with Kumamoto University
On November 28, 2017, Kumamoto University and the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (Mexico) signed a university-level academic and student exchange agreement.
The Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon and the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology and Institute of Pulsed Power Science at Kumamoto University had already established a faculty-level academic exchange agreement in 2015, which has developed into a university-level agreement to expand the exchanges between the two universities. The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon is located in the capital city of Monterrey in Nuevo Leon province in northeastern Mexico. It is the third largest university in Mexico, enrolling 153,000 students and 6,394 teachers.
Through this close relationship, Kumamoto University has been hosting international students from the University, as well as doing collaborative research.
Rector Rogelio Garza and two other members from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon attended the signing ceremony, as well as three students who are currently studying at Kumamoto University from the University. Rector Garza and President Shinji Harada of Kumamoto University signed the agreement with witnesses from both universities. Afterward at the roundtable discussion, introductions of both universities were made, and opinions were presented on future cooperation in a peaceful atmosphere.
We hope that our agreement will encourage exchanges throughout the university and develop into interactions in new areas.
From left to right: Rector Garza, President Harada
Participants of the signing ceremony
KAFS11: The Film OUT of Place: Memories of Edward Said
Public Film Screening and Seminar With Yuko Ishida(Director)
Kumamoto University Alumni Reunion Held in Indonesia
The 2017 Kumamoto University alumni reunion in Indonesia was held on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at our partner university, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, located in Surabaya, Indonesia. The Kumamoto University alumni association in Indonesia was established by Indonesian alumni who graduated from Kumamoto University. Sixteen alumni participated in the reunion.
At the reunion, Vice President Takashima first talked about the current situation and future strategy of Kumamoto University and a staff member of the International Affairs Division then introduced international cooperation programs available for collaborative research with Kumamoto University. After that, we had a question and answer session and exchanged ideas on these topics. Some of the questions and opinions included the following: “Specifically, how do we proceed with collaborative research with Kumamoto University?” and “I would be grateful if there could be a place for prayer within the University.” There was another opinion from the audience that this reunion was being held for the first time in four years since the first alumni reunion in 2013, and that it would be appreciated if future reunions could be held on a regular basis to strengthen relations between the university and the alumni association. In response to this, Vice President Takashima said, “We would like to hold reunions on a regular basis and increase participation and membership.”
It was a great opportunity for alumni of Kumamoto University based in Indonesia and university officials to meet together to exchange ideas and develop friendships. We hope that we will be able to further develop the Kumamoto University network in Indonesia to encourage the global relationship between Kumamoto University and Indonesia to flourish.
Vice President Takashima giving an overview of Kumamoto University
Participants in the 2017 alumni reunion in Indonesia
Participation in the 4th Japan-Indonesia Rectors’ Conference
The fourth Japan-Indonesia Rectors’ Conference was held for three days from Monday, October 24 through Wednesday, October 26, 2017 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The Japan-Indonesia Rectors’ Conference has been held since 2012 to strengthen the relationship between universities in Indonesia and Japan. The first conference was held at Nagoya University in 2012, the second one was at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Gadjah Mada University) in 2014 and the third conference was at Hokkaido University in 2015.
In this fourth conference, our partner university, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, was the host and more than130 presidents, vice presidents and other officials attended from 23 Japanese universities and 55 Indonesian universities. From Kumamoto University, Vice President Takashima attended the conference.
On Tuesday, October 24, Maria Anityasari, the head of the International Office of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, spoke about the situation of education, research and industry in Indonesia and Japan as well as the purpose of this conference. After that, participants were divided into three groups: Group A for educational exchange, Group B for research cooperation and Group C for university-industry collaboration, with the groups discussing case studies of the efforts and future plans presented by each university.
On Wednesday, October 25, keynote speeches were given to introduce initiatives of globalization and the current situation in Indonesian and Japanese universities. Then, further group discussions were held in light of the discussions on the previous day.
On Thursday, October 26, a declaration was made based on the results of the group discussions during the two-day period and the conference was closed.
We hope that the conference helps to further develop relations between Indonesia and Japan. The fifth Japan-Indonesia Rectors’ Conference is expected to be held at Hiroshima University in 2019.
Commemorative photo
Group discussion
Official reading the declaration aloud
Chairpersons of each group, commemorative photo
Chosun University (Republic of Korea) and others paid a courtesy call on Kumamoto University
On September 5th, 2017, Prof. Kang Dong-Oan, the President of Chosun University (Republic of Korea), and others paid a courtesy call on the President, Prof. Shinji Harada, and Vice-President for International Affairs at Kumamoto University, Prof. Kazuki Takashima.
Chosun University is a private university located in Guilin, southwest of Republic of Korea, and has earned high acclaim especially in dentistry, foreign languages, historical fields etc.
Students have been accepted for exchange between Kumamoto University and Chosun University since a cooperative agreement was established in 2009.
At the courtesy meeting, opinions were exchanged on the current exchange situation and the promotion of future exchanges. In addition, a new winter student program was introduced by Chosun University. We continued to agree on the development of good relations between our two universities by promoting student exchange in the future.
Afterward, a roundtable discussion was held with one international student from Chosun University who is currently studying at Kumamoto University. He discussed his student life at Kumamoto University, and then all underwent a campus tour and deepened their interest in Kumamoto University’s history.
It is hoped that further promotion of exchange between our two universities will result from this visit.
From left to right: President Kang, President Harada
The Vice-President of Guangxi Normal University (People’s Republic of China) and others paid a courtesy call on Kumamoto University
On June 27th, 2017, Bai Xiaojun, the Vice-President of Guangxi Normal University (People’s Republic of China), and others paid a courtesy call on the Vice-President for International Affairs at Kumamoto University, Kazuki Takashima.
Guangxi Normal University is located in Guilin in the city of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University functions as a core university in southern China and is a university that has received high acclaim throughout the country with its history and tradition.
Students have been accepted for exchange between Kumamoto University and Guangxi Normal University since a cooperative agreement was established in 2005.
During the discussion, opinions were exchanged on the initiatives of the College of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies at Kumamoto University, along with the current exchange situation and the promotion of future exchanges. The courtesy call ended harmoniously.
Subsequently, we discussed the Student Exchange Program in further detail at the personnel level and continued to agree on the development of good relations between our two universities by promoting student exchange in the future.
Afterward, a roundtable discussion was held with about 6 international students from Guangxi Normal University who are currently studying at Kumamoto University. They discussed their student life at Kumamoto University, and then they underwent a campus tour and deepened their interest in Kumamoto University.
It is hoped that further promotion of exchange between our two universities will result from this visit.
From left to right: Vice President Takashima, Vice President Bai
Earthquake Information
To all students, faculty and staff:
The following announcements are in regard to the recent earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in Kumamoto.
Classes for Friday, April 15 have been cancelled.
The regular health check scheduled for April 15 has been cancelled.
The TOEIC-IP test scheduled for Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 has been cancelled.
The teaching practice guidance scheduled for Saturday, April 16 has been cancelled.
If you have any information regarding injuries as a result of the earthquake, please make contact by phone or email, as listed below.
Phone: 096-342-2103
Email: gji-ryugaku@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
