[NEWS] Augsut 25-28, 2009

The “Summer program for international students of KOSEN (colleges of technology) ‘09” in Okinawa KOSEN was held as a project hosted by the Center for International Students Exchange(CISE) at Okinawa KOSEN, which was set up by the Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan.

This was the program for the international students who entered KOSEN throughout Japan in April 2009, and 90 of them from 46 KOSENs joined it this year. All the participants spent time together through this program to learn good communication with others in a group, the importance of punctuality and keeping rules, Japanese culture, and essential knowledge and attitudes as engineers. Thirteen Japanese students of Okinawa KOSEN joined to organize the participating international students in groups as leaders, bridging the gap between the students and the Japanese teachers of KOSEN who were managing this program.

In the opening ceremony, Dr. Hiyamizu, the trustee of the Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan and Dr. Itomura, the president of CISE, gave them an opening speech, and one of the Japanese students from Okinawa KOSEN explained important information for this program.

CISE provided the participants with various programs such as lectures, workshops, panel discussions and a traditional Okinawan dance show called “Ryukyu-Buyou” at the Okinawa prefecture NAGO youth center and Okinawa KOSEN. Japanese students, who experienced the overseas internship program, presented their report about how international students enjoy KOSEN life, and also they made an appeal to the participants about how KOSEN, especially the advanced course, was a good preparation for their carriers.

When the last program finished, Mr. Kitani, the trustee of the Institute of National Colleges of Technology Japan gave them a speech. In the closing ceremony, Dr. Itomura made a closing address, and the representative of the participants showed their appreciation, saying “we had a wonderful time and learned many things. I feel the four days passed so fast and I wished we could have got to know each other further and longer.”

It was a very tight schedule that started with morning exercise at 7:00am and lasted up to 9:00pm, but the students learned a lot of things that will help their student life in KOSEN.