At our university there are currently 994 international students from 66 countries and regions (as of May 2013). The Hiroshima University International Center conducts a “Conversation Partner-Project” with the aim of promoting international exchange on campus and improving students’ intercultural understanding and language abilities in both Japanese and foreign languages. Until last year the orientation had been held only on the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, but from April of this year also on the Kasumi Campus.

On the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, after class hours on October 23rd (Wed), the orientation meeting on the “Conversation Partner-Project” was held at the reception hall of the Faculty Club. 100 international students and 116 Japanese students, 216 students altogether, took part in the orientation meeting. Partners were selected to practice English, other native languages of the foreign students, and Japanese. They were formed into 91 groups of 2-4 people each, depending on the language requested.

On the Kasumi Campus, the orientation meeting was held during the lunch break on October 25th (Fri) in the Seminar Room 1-2 of the Basic Research Building, Faculty of Medicine. 3 international students and 12 Japanese students, 15 students altogether, took part in the orientation meeting from the Kasumi and the Higashi-Senda Campuses. There were about 4 times as many Japanese students as there were international students, and they were formed into 3 groups of 5 people each.

As stated above, 231 students on three campuses attended the orientation meetings. The new born partners immediately began introducing themselves and having lively conversations.

Of course, study abroad is very important, but students can have international exchange on campus as well. We hope that with the help of conversation partners, students at our university can benefit from international and cultural exchange and intercultural experiences inside and outside the campus, grow into human resources with global vision and spread their wings around the world.

Students introducing themselves to one another (Higashi-Hiroshima Campus)

Students introducing themselves to one another (Kasumi Campus)

【Inquiries】

International Exchange Group,

Education and International Office,

Hiroshima University

E-mail: kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

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