GIFU UNIVERSITYJAPANNEWS Letter 47
2019 October

For International Exchange
Gifu University

Four Joint Degree Programs Launched in April 2019

What are the joint degree (JD) programs?

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the JD student to study and engage in research activities at theaffiliated overseas university for a designated term in the same
duration normally required to undertake a graduate study at thehome university. After successful completion of the program, a single
degree shall be granted jointly by both institutions to the individual.

tarting from 2019 academic year (in April), Gifu University
launched four joint degree programs (Master’s and PhD) with its
two overseas partner universities, the Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati (IITG) and the National University of Malaysia (UKM).
While enrolled at the home and host universities, the program allows

Message from India by First-Year JD Student,
Haruka Maruyama

Joint Degree Programs:
Past, Present & Future
April 1
Commencement of Joint Degree (JD)
Program
May 16 – 19
Gifu University delegates visited IITG
June 14 – 27
Lectures held by IITG professors
July 9First JD students paid a courtesy call on
the PresidentInternational Joint Department of Food Science and Technology
between Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Gifu University (Master’s program),
the Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyAs expected, I found stark differences in culture,
language and operation of classes between India andJapan. Since my arrival, many unforeseen events and problems occur almost
every day, but I am fully enjoying my life in India owing to the great support
from my friends at the Indian Institute of Technology Gwahati (IITG). The
university has abundant nature and provides not only research facilities but
also sports gym, food court, etc. which help me spend a fulfilling break withfriends away from my studies.
While in India, I would like to use the precious opportunity to be positively
stimulated through meeting and interacting with people of diverse values andlanguages.

July 16First JD cohort depart for IITG
October 7 and 8
Opening of Gifu Joint Degree Symposium
2019
DecemberStart of Winter School AY2019
March 2020
Start of Spring School AY2019

G I FU U N I V E RS IT Y

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2019 Oct oberStudying and Training Abroad
Study Abroad Fair AY 2019

April 17

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Emergency and Risk Management During Travel Abroad Orientation

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tudy Abroad Fair AY 2019” was held with the aim to spark
students’ interest in international studies. Topics discussed
included language proficiency requirements to study abroad anddetails of various types of support programs on offer. Students
who returned from their studies abroad were invited to share
their personal experiences and achievements including the
progress they have made in their communication skills.

Griffith University

ESL Program Aug. 12 – Aug. 30
EST Program Aug. 12 – Sep. 20

ESL Program Aug. 11 – Sep. 7

Chisa Suzuki Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences

Keigo Iwamura Faculty of Education

became increasingly convinced of the need to
improve my English communication skills while
studying and spending time with my host family in Australia. For many
Japanese students, communicating in English is not a forte;
therefore, I chose to immerse myself in an English environment bystudying at Griffith University. All the experiences I went through inAustralia have significantly contributed to my progress in English.
I would like to thank my parents and everyone concerned who gaveme this opportunity. I am determined to do my utmost to continue toimprove my English to reciprocate their kindness and meet their
expectations placed on me.
Finally, I would like to encourage my juniors to pluck up their courageand venture out into the world!

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Nohgaku Workshop

he Center for Japanese
Language and Culture hosted“Gujo Dance Workshop” forinternational students. Gujo City
(Gifu) is the birthplace of the famed
Gujo dance, which was designatedas Japan’s important intangible
cultural heritage in 1996.
Participants were dressed insummer kimonos with the help of"Sepia Kai" staff (international
exchange support group, Mino City,
Gifu), and were coached by invited
instructors on how to dance"Kawasaki" and "Harukoma."

Course Completion Presentation
July 10T

he Center for Japanese
Language and Culture hosted“Nohgaku Workshop” at its newly
refurbished 80-tatami mat room.
Noh drama main actors ("shite")from Kanze School and Kyogen
drama performers from Okura
School were invited to help students
develop their understanding ofJapanese classical dramas andcomedic plays. Besides observing
the kimono-wearing demonstration,
students tried Noh’s complex set of
movement patterns and practiced
the art of profound laughter typically
expressed in Kyogen plays.

G I FU U N I V E RS IT Y

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August 4ix students (from China, Thailandand Ukraine) concluded their
Japanese Language and Culture
Studies Course at the Center forJapanese Language and Culture bymaking presentations in Japanese on
varied topics such as contemporary
Japanese society, distinctiveness ofJapanese language, and comparison
between Japan and their homecountries. The students were able todemonstrate
theirremarkableaccomplishments in Gifu University by
responding appropriately to theaudience’s questions.

2019 Oct ober

Administrative Training Program
University of Alberta
Aug. 12 – Aug. 30

Staff Development Program
The University of New South Wales
Aug. 19 – Aug. 30

CanadaAyano Imai

Ayaka Hirota

Faculty Administration Office, Faculty of Engineering

Accounting Division, Financial Affairs Department

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AustraliaTs one of the selected staff, I participated in this summer’s Universityof Alberta’s Administrative Training Program focusing on English
communication in the workplace and job internship where I had theopportunity to observe and work alongside UofA staff. Through thistraining program, I keenly felt the importance of enhancing my English
skills as well as broadening my intercultural knowledge and education,etc. both in Japan and abroad. I feel very fortunate to interact directly with
Canada’s diverse cultures and traditions. This exposure has inspired me
to become more receptive to intercultural matters that were foreign to me.
It is my hope that the university’s staff development programs will continue
to foster and nurture personnel with deep awareness of interculturalissues and global mindset.

his summer, I attended the University of New South Wales (UNSW)
staff development program in Australia with six other Japanesenational universities members.
At UNSW, we took part in practical English language conversation classes
to facilitate smooth conversations with local staff. We also had a chance toshadow a UNSW staff to observe and learn UNSW’s real-time job
operations. On the final day of the program, individual presentations weremade about our impressions and life in Australia. While at UNSW, I wasparticularly impressed with frequent interdepartmental and interdisciplinary
opinion exchanges and discussions among
academic and administrative staff about theirresearch work, class operations, etc.

Studying at Gifu University

Hosted by Center for Japanese Language and Culture, GU-GLOCAL

May 15AustraliaIo meet people with different values, to gain
meaningful experiences, and to immerse myself in
an English-only environment 24/7 – these were the three major goals
I set before going to study at the University of Alberta (UofA) in
Edmonton, Canada this summer.
In retrospect, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” spirit in mycommunication classes, and participation in volunteer activities
exposed me to human relationships which helped me grown as aperson and gave me a new awareness of the importance ofinteracting with diverse people.
I would like to convey my sincerest gratitude for the support that I
have received from the staff of Gifu University, the UofA, my family
and friends who helped me realize my dream.

he "English Circle of Friends" is a bimonthly lunch hour gathering on
campus hosted by GU-GLOCAL where Japanese students,
international students and university staff convene for a fun and casual
English chat. Participants engage in various fun activities such as group
discussions on a wide range of interesting topics, music andcommunication games. On some occasions, Gifu Prefectural
coordinators of international relations (CIRs) are invited as special guests.

Overseas Administrative Training Program

Importance of English Communication

CanadaT

Gujo Dance Workshop

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U-GLOCAL hosted “Emergency and Risk Management
Orientation During Travel Abroad 2019” for students whoare planning to study or travel abroad in the near future.
University staff and a risk management expert were invited to talkabout potentially dangerous offenses, incidents, and accidents
that can take place while traveling or staying in foreign countries.
The importance of health was also addressed.

University of Alberta
What I Have Learned From My Study Abroad (ESL)

English Circle of Friends

June 5

Summer School 2019T

My Dream Has
Come True

June 26 – July 24

en students from Northern Kentucky
University (US), Mokpo National
University (South Korea), Guangxi University(China), University of Electronic Science andTechnology of China (China) and the National
University of Malaysia participated in Gifu
University’s Summer School 2019. They took
part in the following activities and events:
Japanese language classes, bird watching,haiku poetry, University Hospital tour, medical
English workshop with nursing students,
swordmaking demonstration at Seki Knife
Museum (Gifu), kimono wearing, nohgaku
workshop, homestaying in Gujo City (Gifu),
university farm tour, and soft-serve ice cream
making.

RussiaNikolai Shamaev

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United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences

ll my life, I wanted to see and experience everyday life
in Japan. The «gift of fate» to come here and do myfavorite research was a significant event and opened a
new path for my mental and academic development.
Every day as I pass through beautiful surroundings, I am
reminded of how lucky I am to be here.
Just as a bee is constantly hard at work for the good of
the hive, people in Japan care about common interestsand set their sights on achieving the welfare andprosperity of society.
Despite the fact that I have not yet succeeded in mastering
Japanese, I already found friends
with whom I can practice thelanguage here. The multiculturalenvironment with purposeful andbenevolent people from beautiful
countries has made my daily lifeand studies here much moreenjoyable.

GIF U UNIVERSIT Y

My Wonderful
Three Years
in Gifu

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Kang soyeon

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South Korea

Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology

y decision to study abroad was simply toexperience life outside South Korea, andnow I am completing my graduate studies. I
never realized that I would utter the words“nothing is predictable in life” as I anticipate
graduation in six months, with many fondmemories. I would like to thank everyone who
has helped me with my research as well as
job-hunting. I look forward to being acontributing member of society from next
year. I owe these to everyone who assisted andguided me throughout my university life.

2019 Octobe r

GU-GLOCAL Getting Off the Ground!

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ifu University Organization for Promotion of
Glocalization (GU-GLOCAL) was established on
April 1, 2019 jointly with the Center for Japanese
Language and Culture and four main functional
divisions: International Collaborative Education
Promotion Division, Glocalization Promotion Division,
Study Abroad Promotion Division, and International
Affairs and Planning Division.
As a major driving force propelling the University’s
internationalization efforts in realizing its primal goal of“giving the benefits from the University’s global efforts
back to the community”, GU-GLOCAL not only supports
and assists outbound programs for Japanese students
but also inbound programs for international students.
In April 2019, under GU-GLOCAL’s strong leadership,
four international joint degree programs weresuccessfully actualized with IITG and UKM.

Faculty of Engineering

School of Medicine

Delegation from the Universityof South Florida visits
Gifu University

Lithuania Study Meetingsdelegation of thirty-five students and staff
from the University of South Florida visitedGifu University. This type of annual visits has
been conducted since the official agreement forcollaboration between Gifu University School of
Medicine, Health Administration Center (HAC)
and USF Health in October 2016.
A warm reception hosted by the nursing
students was held in the School of Medicine towelcome the USF delegates. USF students
attended Medical English classes with thenursing students and health insurance
seminars conducted by Dr. Mayumi Yamamoto(Director/Professor of HAC). They also toured
the University Hospital and experienced carefor the elderly. During their visit to Hachiman
Elementary School in Gujo City (Gifu), USF
participants joined the students for school lunch
and the Japanese school tradition of“classroom clean-up.” A night out watchingcormorant fishing on the Nagara River with GU
medical students was also on the agenda.

Short-Term Study
Abroad Program at NKU

May 15, June 12,
July 10 and July 31

May 21 - 23

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Faculty of EducationT

he Faculty of Engineering hosted a seriesof four Lithuania study meetings toincrease awareness in the relation between
Republic of Lithuania and Chiune Sugihara(1900 – 1986), a native of Gifu who served as
vice-consul for the Japanese Empire in
Kaunas, Lithuania during the Second World
War. Sugihara saved the lives of some six
thousand Jews fleeing Europe by issuingtransit visas thus risking his job and his family.
In the first meeting, a visiting researcher in
Gifu University and Project Manager of
Sugihara House (Kaunas, Lithuania), Dr.
Arvydas Kumpis, and his wife, Mrs. Simona
Vasilevskyte (Coordinator for International
Relations working for the Gifu Prefectural
Government)
wereinvited.
Theirpresentations gave the audience an insight
into some of the unique aspects of Lithuania
including local food, natural beauty, etc.

Published by the Gifu University Organization for Promotionof Glocalization (GU-GLOCAL)
General International Affairs OfficeE-mail : int_exch@gifu-u.ac.jp
Inbound and Outbound Student Affairs Office E-mail : direcent@gifu-u.ac.jp

August 23 – September 13As part of the Overseas Study on Culture
Course, Education students attend athree-week overseas study program every
summer in order to enhance their English
proficiency and experience American culture
firsthand.
Gifu University signed an exchange
agreement with Northern Kentucky University(NKU) in 1990, which mobilized the
expansion of inbound and outboundexchanges between the two institutions.
In the summer of 2019, twelve GU students
attended English language classes at NKU
and also introduced some unique aspects ofJapanese culture to local school kids(including Japanese School students). GU
students were warmly welcomed by the local
residents.

Newsletter for International Exchange Gifu University Vol.47
https://www.gifu-u.ac.jp/en/international/newsletter/publications/newsletter.html