“Go Global 2016,” a fair to encourage UTokyo students to study abroad, was held at the Komaba Campus on May 27th (Fri) and 28th (Sat), 2016. The objectives of the Fair are to convey to UTokyo students the importance of studying abroad and experiencing different cultures, and to motivate and help them consider overseas study opportunities in the early years of their undergraduate studies. This is the sixth year since this annual fair was introduced in 2011.
The plenary session for general information was held on the first day attended by about 450 students. On the second day, individual counseling sessions were provided by representatives from various departments and divisions of UTokyo, foreign governments’ affiliated organizations, and NGO/NPOs (both domestic and abroad). Approximately 300 students attended the sessions on the second day.
In the plenary session, Mr. Shigeto Sonoda, Deputy Head of the International Division of UTokyo, gave a welcome speech followed by a talk by Mr. Yoshiaki Fujimori (Chairman and CEO of LIXIL, Inc.) He discussed the influence of his study abroad experience on his life and career, utilizing his own overseas study experience as an illustration. His lecture was followed by a panel discussion by students who had studied abroad.
For the counseling sessions, 26 organizations including FUTI set up booths. They answered individual inquiries and gave advice to visitors. For the first time, individual counseling sessions included presentations by participating entities. Some parents of students participated in the second day session perhaps because it was held on a Saturday. With a large number of visitors keenly interested in study abroads, the Go Abroad 2016 was a huge success.
The FUTI booth was visited by about 60 students during the four and a half hour period and was represented by the Hongo Campus Development Division Senior Director, Mr. Atsushi Sato; Staff Member, Mr. Tomohito Mitome; and FUTI Board Member, Dr. Shigenori Matsushita. Students seemed to find certain features appealing about FUTI such as the warm support coming from UTokyo alumni in America and the fact that there is freedom in selecting the foreign university of their choice. These extra benefits on top of financial support set FUTI apart from the other organizations. Additionally, the Ito Foundation USA-FUTI Scholarship which supports study abroad spanning one semester or longer seemed to attract many students who find it hard to participate in a summer program under the new four-quarter system.
Those representing FUTI received a variety of comments and questions such as, “ Because the amount of FUTI Scholarship seems generous, I will seriously consider it,” and, “What are the selection criteria? Is the application/selection process competitive?”
The Development Division staff report that more than 80% of participating students are freshmen or sophomores on the Komaba campus. Their interest in the Fair appears to indicate that the University’s policy which encourages more students to gain international experience, has begun to permeate among the UTokyo students. “The number of UTokyo students with serious interest in study abroad appear to have definitely increased over the last several years,” commented Mr. Sato.
The following is a list of the 26 organizations/units that set up counseling booths on the second day.
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Recruitment Center for International Organizations
- Education USA/Fulbright Japan
- British Council
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan
- Embassy of Switzerland
- DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst; German Academic Exchange Service)
- Alberta Canada Office
- Friends of UTokyo, Inc.
- Campus France- French Government Study Abroad Office
- AIESEC in Japan (at UTokyo)
- UTOSAC (Overseas Study Advisory Community) /卒業生室
- Council on International Educational Exchange-Japan (CIEE)
- Never-ending International work Campus Exchange (NICE)
- VIA (Volunteer in Asia) Stanford Program
- Study Abroad Foundation
- Bai Xian Asia Institute of Japan
- Uppsala University
- UTokyo Beijing Representative Office
- UTokyo India Office
- UTokyo Globalization Office
- UTokyo Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
- Hands-on Activities Program Promotion Team of UTokyo
- UTokyo Global Leadership Education Program
- The Go Global Office of UTokyo
Written by Tomohito Mitome, Development Office, UTokyo
Articles in this newsletter:
- Ms. Nobuko Sakurai and Dr. Fumiko Tamura Elected as Board Members
- Six UTokyo Students and Eight U.S. Students Receive FUTI’s 2016 Summer Scholarships
- Ten Recipients Selected for the Ito Foundation U.S.A.-FUTI Scholarship
- Donors’ Messages: Dr. Shunpei Yamazaki and Prof. Iwao Ojima
- FUTI President, Prof. Masaaki Yamada Gives a Lecture, "A Future Energy Source, Nuclear Fusion, and Study of Plasmas in the Universe"
- FUTI Presents Lecture by Distinguished International Tax Expert, Krishen Mehta：The Panama Papers in Perspective — How Illicit Capital Flows Make Us All Vulnerable
- “Go Global Study Abroad Fair 2016” Held at the Komaba Campus
