Hybrid Short-Term Exchange Program 2024
From July 13, 2024, a Hybrid Short-Term Exchange Program 2024 was implemented among five participating universities: Nagasaki University, Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea), Shandong University (China), National University of Laos, and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). This program is part of the CAMPUS Asia Program, which aims to foster infrastructure professionals who can play an active role on the global stage and is designed to provide the opportunity to understand the different cultures and current status of infrastructure in each country. The program consisted of two parts: (1) online lectures (7/13-8/3) and (2) on-site programs at each university (8/9-8/28). A total of 36 students from four universities (12 from Nagasaki, 10 from Sungkyunkwan, 12 from Shandong, and 2 from Laos) participated this year. In addition, Nagasaki University started dispatching students to the ASEAN region from this year: Laos and Singapore (2 students each), for more active student exchange in the wider region.
The program at each university included special lectures, local language lesson, cultural experiences, city tours and visits to infrastructure sites. At Nagasaki University, we arranged an overnight trip to Unzen and Shimabara to visit disaster stricken sites and infrastructure facilities in Nagasaki. On the last day of the program, each group gave a presentation of their results, and it was evident that each group had lively exchanges during the three-week program, making it a meaningful program for each student.
In addition, from this year, the framework of the CJK exchange program was extended to the ASEAN region. Nagasaki University dispatched two students each to Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and National University of Laos. In Singapore, while students visited Nanyang Technological University, they also had the opportunity to participate in the internship training for three days at a local Japanese company’s infrastructure construction site, with special support from the Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. It provided them with first-hand experience of overseas infrastructure building and was a very precious experience for them that may have a significant impact on their future careers.
In Laos, the program was prepared by National University of Laos: (1) Presentations by students from both sides introducing the current status of infrastructure in Japan and Laos, (2) Infrastructure lectures, (3) Lao Art Museum construction site visit, and (4) a Vientiane City tour. The students were also able to deepen their understanding of the local culture and people through exchanges with many Laotian students.
As the Campus Asia program comes to an end in March 2026, the next Hybrid Short-Term Exchange Program in 2025 is expected to be the final one.