Over four weeks in February, we welcomed 19 students from the University of Tokyo, Japan, who enjoyed a typical The Australian National University (ANU) student experience.
The group of engineering students visited as part of the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science’s 2020 summer study tour.
Dean Tatsuya Okubo from the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo also joined the group for some activities.
Students enjoyed a range of activities during their stay; including engineering classes, Canberra tourism and cultural activities, student association events, and English classes.
Students were able to take advantage of some unique learning and study opportunities, taking part in short courses and programs tailored for the tour. Each of the courses included interactive group work and team presentations, an integral part of a typical ANU classroom experience.
Participants were also able to meet with current ANU students and connect with our world-class academics.
The participants reported enjoying the opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of a current student here and experience the academic and extra-curricular life at ANU.
“An experience like this is was a great opportunity and stimulates me to grow,” said University of Tokyo student Moeri Horiuchi.
Another student, Kobayashi Toki, said that making friends on-campus and building a network of peers was his favourite part of the study tour.
Current student ambassadors from the College led team-building engineering workshops for our visitors, including a Marshmallow Tower challenge and a session to design their own Rube Goldberg machine.
Not-for-profit organisation Engineers Without Borders also facilitated a workshop on using a sustainable design processes to create prosthetic limbs. This concept could be applied in the real-world to improve access in developing nations.
The trip to Canberra also involved plenty of opportunities to learn outside the classroom. The group visited the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Big Dish Solar Panel, ANU Makerspace, ANU Craig building, the Botanical Gardens, and toured College research facilities.
The schedule was packed with social and cultural activities as well. Students attended Orientation Week events organised by PARSA and ANUSA, and took part in a range of ANU Sport clubs and classes.
The ANU Japan Club joined the cultural tours, to get to know our University of Tokyo visitors, provide translation support, and share their own experiences as Japanese students at ANU.
The tour concluded with a closing lunch, certificates, and individual presentations by participants, who shared their experience and reflections of the four weeks at ANU.
The study tour was organised by ANU International Student Recruitment and Partnerships (ISRP) and sponsored by the Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering (RSEEME). The participating cohort belonged to the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo.
Special thank you to everyone who helped organise the tour:
- Professor Ian Petersen, RSEEME
- Professor Matthew James, Associate Director, Research, RSEEME
- Dr Ankur Sharma, Lecturer, RSEEME
- Johan Arnberg, Manager, CECS ISRP
- Akeel Feroz, ISRP Coordinator, CECS ISRP
- Suhaib Ahmed Kawish, Marketing Intern, CECS ISRP
- Tatsuya Okubo, Dean, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo
- Chikuni Yoko, Assistant Manager, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo.
- Aya Shibasaki, Administrative Staff, University of Tokyo
For more information on this summer study tour or future events, please get in touch with the College at international.cecs@anu.edu.au