GIFU UNIVERSITY

JAPANNEWS Letter 49
2020 October

For International Exchange
Gifu University

Mask Donations
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging around the globe, the strong bonds have been forged between Gifu University and our overseas
partner universities through mask donations.

Mask Donation to Assam University and NKU

August 26A

s the whole world is still grappling with
COVID-19, Gifu University stands together
with our partner universities abroad. Donationsof packages of 2,000 face masks were made in
response to requests from the universities innations severely hit by the pandemic, namely
Assam University (India) and Northern Kentucky
University (USA). We sincerely hope that thesemasks will help ensure the continued health andsafety of students, faculty, and staff oncampus. In times like these, the challenges
posed by COVID-19 have emphasized theimportance of standing together in solidarity
with each other as our institutions continue tostrengthen closer ties and commitments
moving forward.

Mask Donation fromGuangxi University April 15

Mask Donation from the PRC
Consulate-General
May 19in Nagoya

AApackage of 2,000 face masks donated by one of ouroverseas partner universities, Guangxi University (China)was delivered to Gifu University this April. The much-neededmasks at the time were distributed to the University Hospitaland daycare centers on campus to combat the spread of thenovel coronavirus.
Written on the package was a phrase taken from a poem
composed by Wang Xiaolian (698-926), a Chinese diplomatthat states: "Who says we are separated by a thousand "li"(miles)? For it casts its light upon both of us, each in a different
land!" It serves as a reminder of the strong bond nurtured byour two universities for years despite geographical distances.

G I FU U N I V E RS IT Ys a token of gratitude for the emergency assistanceprovided by Japan during the peak of the COVID-19
outbreak in China in March, packages of protective masks
and antibacterial tissue and wipes were delivered to Gifu
University by Liu Xiaojun, Consul-General of the People's
Republic of China in Nagoya. The distribution of these PPEs
to health care workers at the University Hospital was vital dueto the shortages of critical supplies at the time. Gifu University deeply appreciates the show of support and encouragement from the Chinese Consulate-General.

12020 Oct oberInternational Events & Activities Held Despite Unprecedented Challenges Posted by the COVID-19 OutbreakEnglish Circle of Friends

Observing the 3C Measures

Studying Abroad

Host: The Center for Japanese Language and Culture, Gifu University Organization for Promotion of Glocalization (GU-GLOCAL)*3C: Closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings

Nohgaku Video Workshop for International Students

June 24 and July 8E

July 15

Nohgaku is a collective term that represents the traditional Japanese
performing arts of Noh and Kyogen, both recognized by UNESCO as“Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” Since 2005, the Center for Japanese
Language and Culture has been hosting annual Nohgaku (Noh and Kyogen)workshops conducted by professional Nohgaku actors. Due to theunprecedented COVID-19 crisis this year, the Nohgaku workshop was conducted
through video with a limited number of participants - eight international students
from our partner universities.
The workshop instructors introduced the history of Nohgaku, and demonstrated
the characterized form of laughter that distinguishes Kyogen from Noh.
Participants were also able to see short Noh and Kyogen plays performed on thescreen. While in-person workshops may be better than workshops conducted onscreen, under this exceptional circumstance, the Center hoped that it was able toprovide participants an equitable learning experience in developing theirunderstanding of Japanese classical dramas and comedic plays.

nglish Circle of Friends (ECF) is an informal lunch time gathering
for Japanese students, international students, administrative
staff and faculty on campus.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak this year, all participants wererequested to wear a face mask and observe physical distancing while
engaging in small group conversations. ECF, which normally takes
place once/twice a month, is organized by Specially Appointed
Associate Professor Raymond Co as part of GU-GLOCAL sponsoredactivities. At the club, participants can enjoy casual English chat withinternational students and invited guests such as Coordinators forInternational Relations (CIRs) from Gifu Prefectural Government
office. Here participants can meet and interact with people fromdifferent backgrounds and disciplines in a relaxed and informal
setting while learning about each other’s cultures, etc.

OnlineStudying Abroad
During COVID-19Presentation by Students of Japanese Languageand Culture Studies Course
August 9

University of Technology,
SydneyT

he Center for Japanese Language and Culture
hosted one of its annual events, “Presentation byStudents of Japanese Language and Culture Studies
Course 2020” with six student participants (from China,Poland, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam).
The presenters spoke eloquently in Japanese presenting
their unique viewpoints of Japanese culture andcomparing and contrasting them with their own cultures.
Attendance at the event, which is normally open to thepublic every year, was limited only to the university
students and staff this year in accordance withregulations for limiting event gatherings. This is the firsttime that the event was live streamed online with positive
feedback from many viewers.

Mayu Takimoto
Faculty of Education

Australia

Iwas supposed to stay in Sydney from February toNovember, however, I came back in April to Japanbecause of COVID-19. Although it was quite a shor t
stay, I enjoyed Sydney with my multinational friends. I
continue to study UTS program which is changed tosuit for online. It is unfor tunate that I came homeearlier, but “online study abroad” is also a valuableexperience.

Studying in Japan

Career Development Program for International Students 2020 (First Semester)
What is “Career Development Program for International Students?”

The “Career Development Program for International Students” is the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan(MEXT)-commissioned program to universities and their partner organizations with the aim to increase the number of international students
studying and securing employment in Japan. To help realize the goal of extending job opportunities to foreign student graduates in the Japaneselabor market, universities, local municipalities and business communities are working together to ensure an ideal environment for international
students to enhance their Japanese language proficiency, participate in internship programs, and plan and carry out their future career path. Theseemployment support programs for international students have been implemented by the MEXT-approved alliance between Gifu University andNagoya University since 2017.

Career Education

Gifu University’s offers a special multi-lingual one-on-one career counseling and guidance for international students in Japanese, English,and Chinese. Customized career educational programs guide individual students in navigating through myriad information, and provide
psychological support in going through the difficult task of job-seeking. Individual face-to-face consultations and services were initially carriedout in the first semester, but have been moved online amidst concerns for COVID-19.

Career Education Program

OnlineWEB Meeting with Successful Job-Hunters

Promotion Activities

P

A Dreaming Study Trip
Comes True

articipants of the Career Development Program for International
Students kindly offered their assistance to the program promotion:

Cai Haoliang
United Graduate School ofAgricultural ScienceFlyerNPoster
A program poster was displayed atthe PR space in Ministopconvenience store (on campus).

G I FU U N I V E RS IT Y

2Oct ober

Chinaot until I h ave been here foralmost one year that I would
like to say: “Wow, it’ s so wonderful to study at Gifu
University”. As an English Program student, I could not
speak Japanese well before coming to Japan. However,
all the staff and students showed great kindness andpatien ce to a ssis t me in all a spects . Besides, freeJapanese lear nin g class is available to the foreignstudents. Now I am accustomed to living here, playing
sports, going to travel and cooking with friends. I alsofeel grateful to have a wonderful professor and a groupof lovely lab mates. Their wisdom largely supports me tocarry out my research smoothly. In all, I do believe thisexperience will be a shining part of my life.

A flyer was created profilingthree participants’ successful
job-seeking experiences aswell as a message from acompany representative who
highlighted details about their
recruitment policy towardforeign nationals.

GIF U UNIVERSIT Y

3Octobe rSupport for Students Impacted by COVID-19
Food and Monetary AidOGifu University provided the following
COVID-19 financial assistance forinternational students

n May 29, MIRAI Co., Ltd. and Sakurao Agricultural Production Cooperative
donated a total of 400 kilograms of "Hatsushimo" rice variety (a local brand ofrice produced in Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture) in support of Gifu University
students living in dormitories.
On July 3, 330 in-flight meal packages (JALoriginal "SKY TIME Kiwi" beverage andpackets of rice crackers) were donated fromJapan Airlines (JAL).
On August 12,￥500,000 monetary donationfrom Gifu Minami Lions Club was madeavailable for ten international students facing
financial difficulties in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

・Relief fund (30,000 yen per student) to help cover living expenses
・“Student Support Emergency Fund” for “Continuation of Studies”
・The Short-Term Loan Fund for International Students
・Tuition Waiver
・Provision of funds for hotel quarantine accommodation uponentering Japan from overseas
・Financial support to cover living expenses for students unable toreturn to their home countries
・Provision of loans for e-Learning

The following are donations received
from the private sectors
・Bales of rice from MIRAI Co., Ltd. and Sakurao Agricultural
Production Cooperative
・In-flight meal packages from JAL
・Financial assistance from Gifu Minami Lions Club

Facult y of Education

Online Classes for Exchange Student - Huang Li

OnlineFor many of our international students like Ms. Huang Li, a Chinese student from theUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of China, who was supposed tostart her studies at Gifu University this April, the global pandemic has restricted herfrom coming to Japan. To help make her study transition as smooth as possible, hersupervisor organized online classes in the first semester. There were some problems
such as occasional disruptions with internet connectivity, but Ms. Li was able tosuccessfully complete all her class work and assignments. The Zoom online
technology has been a great support during this pandemic and has allowed students
like Ms. Li to maintain close contact with supervisors and tutors at Gifu University.

Signing of Agreementon Student and Faculty
Exchanges
April 2T

he partnership with Universitéde Lille (France) goes back tothe exchange agreement between
the Faculty of Regional Studies and Universitéde Lille III in 2015. To further advance ourinternational academic partnership, an Agreement on Student and Faculty Exchanges wasconcluded between Gifu University and Université de Lille, which has become the largest
public university in France that resulted from themerger of three affiliated universities (Universitéde Lille I, II and III) in2018.

Facult y of Engineering

Online Lithuania Study Meetings

OnlineJune 19, July 22T

he long-standing relation between Gifu Prefecture and the Republic of Lithuania
can be linked to Mr. Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), a native of Gifu who also
served as a Japanese diplomat and vice consul for the Japanese Empire in Kaunas,Lithuania during the Second World War. His heroic act of issuing transit visas to some six
thousand Jews fleeing Nazi persecution helped save their lives. This shared accord between
Gifu and Lithuania continues today in the bilateral exchanges between Gifu University and
Vytautas Magnus University (VMU).
The Faculty of Engineering hosted two separate online Lithuania study meetings in June andJuly. In the first meeting, Gifu University students participated in information sharing about theCOVID-19 pandemic and changing lifestyles with their Lithuanian counterparts from Japaneseculture circle, “Hashi (Bridge)” in VMU. In the second meeting, Ms. Zivile Jomantaite (Lithuanian-born Coordinator for International Relations currently working for the Gifu PrefecturalGovernment) was invited as a special guest to introduce Lithuanian summer foods, festivals,
tourist destinations, etc.

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

Newsletter for International Exchange Gifu University Vol.49
https://www.glocal.gifu-u.ac.jp/en/planning/data/newsletter/index.html