Nine volunteer students from Kobe University and seven students from the High School for the Gifted in Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies participated in the information session and exchange event.
Part One: Campus Tour
Our students came along on a tour to visit the Kobe University main building, a registered tangible cultural property, the Humanities and Social Sciences Library, and the buildings for various different departments. We also headed over to the university co-op, where the students had fun shopping for items like stuffed plushies of the Kobe University mascot, Shindai Uribo.The campus tour was a great opportunity to get a feel for the history of Kobe University and the atmosphere of student life.
Kobe University is a national university, founded in 1902, and celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2022. It offers a comprehensive academic program, with 10 faculties, 15 graduate schools, 1 research institute, and numerous centers under the four major academic divisions of “Humanities and Social Sciences,” “Social Studies,” “Natural Sciences,” and “Life and Medical Sciences.”
Students learned that the school has some 15,900 current students, and 1,200 international students from 92 countries and regions
Our student volunteers did a great job at sharing the best of the university with our guests. The high school students themselves were pretty surprised at the size of our campus!
Part Two: Information Session & Exchange Event (Kobe University 100 Year Anniversary Memorial Building)
Next, we headed to a classroom in the Kobe University 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall, where Dr. Ikemura of the Career Center and the Center for High School and University Excellence in Global Human Resource Development shared information with the group about Kobe University’s international exchange, support for international students, and information on entrance examinations.
The student volunteer’s presentation was extremely interesting and unique, showing off their vibrant student lives.
1. Student volunteer: 2nd year master’s student (from Taiwan)
This student talked about how they came to study at Kobe University, how they prepared for the entrance exam, their student life, and research activities.
In response to a question about whether they were worried about having a high enough level of Japanese language ability, this student volunteer responded confidently, “Even if without a strong enough grasp of Japanese, I can communicate in both English and Japanese, and I can do my unviersity studies without issue.” They also happily reported that they have decided to work as an engineer at a company in Kyushu after completing their graduate studies.
2. Student volunteer: 1st year undergraduate
This student takes part in a variety of different activities, playing the viola in the orchstra club while studying nursing, and volunteering at nursing homes. They spoke about their dream to bring together their studies and extracurricular activities in a synergistic way to contribute better to the field of nursing in the future. At the end of the presentation, the student played the viola – the first time these high school students had heard the instrument.
3. Student volunteer: 1st year undergraduate
This student shared about their internship in Mongolia in July, 2023. They told the group that Kobe University has an overseas internship program, offering chances to intern not only in Japan, but in other countries as well, and that this program is available for students to challenge themselves beginning their freshman years. The student also spoke about how they made friends from all over the world, and about their dream to learn about law in other countries.
Finally, the students of Kobe University presented the High School for the Gifted in Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies students with origami gifts. The high school students, in turn, presented the Kobe students with gifts of embroidered pictures.
Though it was only for a short period of time, the students were able to enjoy one another’s company and learn about their different experiences.
Through this information session and exchange event, we also felt the students’ strong desire to realize their dreams of studying abroad at Kobe University.
I hope we can continue this exchange between Japan and Vietnam in the future!