UGRNOEKQuarterly Newsletter vol.22

Headlines

Special Committee on Globalization of Education & Research, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University

令和４年
月 31
Issuedon 3Jan
1,日発行
2023

Featured !!

• Sakura Science Exchange with Mongolia,Taiwan, and Thailand!
• 5 Month Student Exchange at King Mongkut's
University of Technology in Thailand!
• Participation in National University ofMongolia's 80th Anniversary!

Featured !!

Sakura Science Exchange with Mongolia, Taiwan, and Thailand!
With support from Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)'s Sakura Science Plan, Kenguro has been exchanging and engaging withstudents from across Asia since 2014. Activities have been held online as of the emergence of Covid-19, but with the restrictions on sending andreceiving university students gradually being lifted in Japan, we were able to invite students from throughout Asia again after around three yearsof being unable to do so. Between September 4th and September 10th of 2022, a total of 11 undergraduate and graduate students were invitedfrom the National University of Mongolia, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, and the University of the Humanities in Mongolia; theNational Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan; and Naresuan University as well as Silpakorn University in Thailand.

In -person Student Exchange for the First Time in 3 Years
An official ceremony was held upon the Asian student’s arrival at Iwate
University, and after Department Chair Yashiro's opening remarks, the guests
were shown a video introducing the school, which was produced during the2020 Sakura Science Online Exchange. Following that, two doctoral students

provided presentations on their research. Towards the end of the event, asegment titled "My Country, My University" was held, in which students from(Right) Group A's visit toMorioka Handcrafts Village,in which they learned
about the regional historyof Japan through making
traditional dumplings ofIwate Prefecture, etc.

each university spoke about the culture, cuisine, and lifestyles of their countries,
as well as the university they were visiting from. In the afternoon, participants

were divided into three groups to separate into each lab room, headed up byProfessors Tanaka and Konno of the Graduate Course in Design and Media(Left) Group B discussing

Technology, as well as Professor Kobayashi of the Graduate Course in Electrical,

the model they will

Electronic, and Communication Engineering. See below for anoutlineof their
Designedby Freepik

produce. Students

from differing cultures

activities.

worked to overcome① Group A (Prof. Tanaka's Lab): The group discussed the traits of traditional

communication

gift packaging found throughout Thailand, Mongolia, and Japan. They visited

hardships.

Morioka Handcrafts Village and took a look at industrial products, local food,and other traditional commodities, and upon visiting commercial facilities inMorioka, the group also learned about the various specialty products foundthroughout Iwate and its surrounding regions as well. After, they discussed thecharacteristics of Japan's traditional food packaging from a design point of view,as compared to participant's countries.

② Group B (Prof. Konno's Lab): The group printed a model using a 3D printer.

After discussing what kind of object they would produce, they modeled it using
3D software. After carrying out repeated trial productions, they finalized themodel and conducted a print using the 3D printer. With 3D printer output taking(Right) Group C makes
new discoveries bymeasuring their own
heart activity using
circuitry they built
themselves.

significant time, the group also discussed how to figure out appropriate printtimes, etc.

③ Group C (Prof. Kobayashi's Lab): The group learned about three-dimensional
biological sensor technology through the creation of electronic circuits thatmeasure heart activity. Since participating students were new to circuitry
production, they began with basic principles, and then progressed to learning

about biomechanics for use in measuring heart activity as electrical signals. The
group also visited historical museums and art galleries to learn about the history
and culture of Iwate.

On the last day of the visitors' stay, a presentation was held in which eachgroup delivered the results of their lab activities. After the program certificate
reception ceremony, the students head over to Tokyo and returned home safely
via Narita Airport.

(Above) Group photo taken after the final day presentations and certificate ceremony

5 Month Student Exchange at King Mongkut's University of Technology in Thailand!
With the support of the JASSO Study Abroad Support Program*1, students spent about five months, from August to December of 2022, studying at King
Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand. Exchange with KMUTT began around 10 years ago through Mr. Pairintra (1988 Ph.D.,
Graduate School of Agriculture), who currently serves as a professor at the school. Our Electronic Communications Course Associate Professor Daibo serves as
the program's coordinator, and so far 9 students have been accepted for internships, 10 have been sent, and 2 have been sent as exchange students. During
the Covid-19 pandemic, 8 of our students also participated in KMUTT's international graduate thesis event, in which they gave online presentations. Below area few words from Mr. Sawada of the City Planning Laboratory (headed by Professor Masaaki Minami), who studied as an exchange student at the same school.

Mr. Shogo Sawada, Graduate Course in Regional and Community
On the recommendation of the coordinator at KMUTT during my study abroad in Thailand, I was invited

to participate in an initiative to restore a canal in Bangkok, which was on the decline due to the use of cars,motorcycles, and buses. In meeting with over 10 of the initiative’s members, I was able to learn about thehistory and current context behind the canal near the university as well. I also visited the site as part of astudy along with other classmates studying abroad, and was able to speak with local residents to gain abetter understanding of the issues they face. In addition to the instructors, the event was also attended(Above) Residences along the canalby local business owners and residents that provide canal services such as canoeing, and I could see thatthey were working hard towards the development of the area. Efforts are also being made for future
improvements to public services around the canal, such as restrooms, as well as to transportation tourban areas, and boating waterways. When we actually conducted our survey of the area, we found thatthe region around the canal was residential, and many people that live there make use of it throughout

their daily lives, such as for doing laundry, as a means of transportation, and as a place to play for children.
However, with the environmental issues, such as poor waste disposal and water quality, I definitely felt theimportance of improving the canal.

(Above) At the meeting (Mr. Sawada is on the right)

Participation in National University of Mongolia's 80th Anniversary!
From October 3rd through 10th of 2022, Professors Konno and Tanaka, as well as Associate Professor
Matsuyama, Graduate Course in Design and Media Technology, along with Vice President Yabu anduniversity administrators, participated in National University of Mongolia (NUM)'s 80th anniversary
ceremony and the Mongolia Japan Study Abroad Fair. As our university partner, our school's Faculty ofScience & Engineering works towards developing academic and student exchange*2 with NUM, and 9of our graduates are enrolled as faculty members at the university.
NUM's 80th anniversary ceremony was held in the capital, Ulan Bator (Ulaanbaatar), over the courseof three days from October 4th through 6th. At the commemoration held at the Parliament Buildingon the second day, speeches were delivered by NUM's president as well as guests from their overseas
partner universities, and a video summarizing NUM's initial establishment and its history since then wasalso shown. Participants were also introduced to a large-scale initiative under(Above) At the Parliament Building, venue for the NUM
80th Anniversary Ceremony. Along with its massive bronze
statue of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.

current development, as well treated to an orchestral performance. Upon theceremony's conclusion, participants joined in a social gathering along with Vice
President Yabu and members of the International Student Alumni Association.
Participants also strengthened ties in regards to research through their visits tothe laboratory of Professor Enkhbayar, a graduate and current faculty memberof NUM's School of Applied Sciences, and a 23 employee venture company
working in metaverse system development.
The Japan Study Abroad Fair was held over two days on October 7th and 8th,
at the JICA Mongolia-Japan Center for Human Resources Development. Around200 students visited our booth, and many seemed interested in software, digitalgraphics, and AI. We look forward to an increase in the number of international
students in the future!

(Above) Meeting with international
student alumni, together with 9 alumni
and students.

(Above) At the Japan Study Abroad Fair,a member of our university's faculty also
gave an explanation of the program.

*1：A Young Global Researcher Development Program overseas research internship for Ph.D.
students and applicants (Program No. HTB2210200202)*2：Refer to Quarterly Newsletter Volume 8 for information on exchange between Mongolia
and the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Message from the Editor
How has your new year been going? It was our pleasure to be able to introduce you all to theSakura Science initiative after being unable to for the past three years, as well as our student
exchange with King Mongkut's University of Technology, and our participation in the National
University of Mongolia ceremony. We believe these experiences were no doubt very meaningful
and transformative for all those involved. While the Covid-19 situation still continues, we're working
towards returning to regular inter-university exchange, little by little. With that said, we sincerely
hope for the further development and success of all our students.

Editor’s Office:Special Committee on Globalization of
Education and Research
Email: kenguro@iwate-u.ac.jp
TEL: 019-621-6405
http://www.kenguro.iwate-u.ac.jp/

Kenguro Website