The Third START Program: 24 First-Year-Students sent to Australia

At the La Trobe University Farewell Party

From August 23 until September 7, 2011, 24 first-year-students took part in the third annual START Program (*). Escorted by 3 teachers, they visited Latrobe University and the areas surrounding Melbourne, Australia.
At Latrobe University they enjoyed a campus tour in the form of a game, had a lecture by local faculty on cultural diversity and the aborigines of Australia, and visited the wildlife protection area inside of the campus. Most of all, the students were able to have cultural exchange, mainly with Australian students majoring in Japanese and Japanese Studies. They developed friendships, breaking the cultural and language barrier. Furthermore, our START students were strongly encouraged by the Australian students’ sincere attitude towards study. Also outside of the campus, they learned a lot about Australian society and culture by visiting an elementary school, a park associated with Aborigines, the Immigration Museum and more. The students also had the opportunity to see the Great Ocean Road and the penguin parade at Phillip Island, so they were able to fully enjoy the great outdoors of Australia.
For the weekend, START students were separated into groups of four students each and participated in a homestay on a farm for three days and two nights. They felt the joy and difficulty of communicating with their host families in English on their own.
For most of the START students it was their first experience of travel abroad, and their preparations started with the passport application. Then, they had to take part in a risk-management seminar, three orientation sessions before departure and four self-imposed study meetings to be ready for this training course. They came home after spending every day full of stimulation and discovery, and all of them were expressed gratitude for the precious experiences in Australia and their passion and determination to challenge language and overseas study. Back in Japan, they wrote a report, reviewed the training course in a follow-up session and made sure that this program will be the starting point for a new beginning.

* The START Program is new, established in 2010, and aims to raise interest in studying abroad and participating in international/cross-cultural activities among Hiroshima University students. The program provides students with little overseas experience to visit overseas partner institutions and surrounding areas, meet with local students, participate in classes taught in English, and experience a life abroad. The Hiroshima University Fund financially supports all of the students participating in this program, allowing a broader population of students to take up the challenge. This time, the third time, the program received 91 applications for the 24 available slots. Also in February and March of this academic year, we plan to offer the same type of program in Asia and America.

“START” stands for “Study Tour Abroad for Realization and Transformation”. We believe that this program will serve as the very first step for the participants to open up their eyes to a broader world and change their lives.

Studying Together with La Trobe University Students

In a Class

【Inquiry】
International Exchange Group, Peace/Internatioanl Office,
Hiroshima University
TEL:082-424-4346
E-mail: kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
*Please replace (AT) with @.