On May 11th (Mon) in the Reception Hall on the second floor of the Faculty Club, a study abroad experience debriefing session was held. This session gives former exchange students who experienced study abroad (overseas training) through Hiroshima University’s various overseas study programs the opportunity to report on their experiences. On the day, 71 faculty members and students interested in overseas studies were participating.



This was the eighth debriefing session. Students who took part in one of the Hiroshima University overseas study programs; the HUSA/USAC Hiroshima University Study Abroad Program, the AIMS-HU Program, the G.ecbo Global Internship Program, the START Program, Short-term Language Training Program at Fu Jen Catholic University (Taiwan) and the Summer School on Environmental Science at Griffith University (Re-Inventing Japan Project) reported on their experiences. Five of the seven programs were introduced in English and the students had the opportunity to show the results of their language training abroad.



The main contents of the debriefing referred to the motivation for studying abroad, program outlines and research contents, the total costs and personal transformation, changes and discoveries after having studied or trained abroad. One of the students who had taken part in the G.ecbo Global Internship Program told about his stay: “The first academic meeting I have ever participated was in Korea and I had to give a presentation in English. I made friends in Korea and also after the internship we still stay in contact with each other.” Another student, who went to America through the 21st START Program said: “I saw that the American students participated very actively in their lessons and that has inspired me very much. Back in Japan, I decided to study English even harder.” Like this, the students talked about the continuing effects of overseas study and training even after coming back to Japan.



At the end of the session, President Ochi spoke several words of encouragement to the students also based on his own overseas experience. He talked about the importance of “accepting people with different cultural background and cross-cultural understanding”. Addressing the students who had given excellent presentations upon their fulfilling experiences of studying abroad, he concluded the session with the following words: “The future of Hiroshima University is bright!”



The participants expressed their thoughts saying: “It was useful to get specific information about the costs” or “It became clear to me how to spend my university life after having studied abroad.”



Debriefing Sessions on Former Exchange Students’ Overseas Experiences are held twice a year, in spring and autumn. The next debriefing session will be in October 2015.

This session is part of the “Study Abroad Week” – events which are held from May 11th (Mon) until May 15th (Fri). The “Study Abroad Week” takes place once a year and within this framework, numerous events are held for students interested in overseas studies, including information services about studying and training abroad and discussion meetings with experienced students. Furthermore, there is a photo exhibition in the spiral staircase of the Student Plaza titled “Art Gallery Connecting to the World – the Charm of Overseas Study in Photos”.



Next year’s “Study Abroad Week 2016” is planned from May 9th (Mon) until May 13th (Fri). We would like to invite again all of this year’s participants and to encourage others to join us.

The meeting room

Comprehensive comments by President Ochi

【Inquiries about this article】

International Exchange Group (Overseas Studies Desk)

Education and International Office,

Hiroshima University

TEL：082-424-4346

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

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