Asia Intercollegiate Cooperative Project
for Nurturing Global Leaders
in Sustainable Infrastructure Development

The Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology accepted two graduate students from Shandong University in 2024 as the fifth batch of Double Degree (DD) students. Recently, a master’s thesis defense was conducted for these students at Nagasaki University’s Bunkyo Campus via Zoom.

The two students delivered their research presentations in fluent English using PowerPoint slides, followed by a question-and-answer session with the examination committee. As a result of the thesis evaluation conducted in accordance with the academic regulations of Nagasaki University, both students successfully passed the examination.

The DD program is designed to provide a rigorous academic experience. During the two-year master’s program, students spend one year studying abroad at the partner university. In addition to completing coursework, they engage in research related to their master’s thesis and are required to complete two master’s theses during the program.

After arriving at Nagasaki University, the two students first participated in Japanese language lesson in September and then began attending classes and conducting research from October. Through these activities, they were able to enhance their problem-solving and communication skills. Furthermore, through daily life in Japan and interactions with Japanese students and faculty members, they deepened their understanding of Japanese culture.

After obtaining their master’s degrees from Nagasaki University, the two students are expected to obtain master’s degrees from Shandong University in June 2026. Many DD students who have participated in this program have gone on to pursue doctoral studies not only at our university but also at other graduate schools in Fukuoka or Tokyo after completing their studies at their home universities. We are very pleased with these outcomes and look forward to the continued success of these two students in the future.

In FY2020, amid the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the third mode of the CAMPUS Asia project was adopted. Although studying abroad remained difficult during this period, the five participating universities worked together to advance the project. As a result, a total of 264 students participated in the program over the past five years. The project has also made a significant contribution to promoting the internationalization of Nagasaki University as a whole.

Although the project will conclude in March 2026, the five universities have agreed to continue collaborating to foster human resources in the field of infrastructure development. It is hoped that these international initiatives will gain broad recognition and appreciation, and that mutually beneficial relationships between Japan, China, South Korea, and ASEAN countries will continue to develop in an appropriate and sustainable manner.

On February 5, 2026, the 5th Consortium Meeting of the CAMPUS Asia Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Sustainable Infrastructure Development was held at Nagasaki University. This meeting marked the final consortium meeting under Mode 3 of the program. A total of 31 participants attended in a hybrid format: 18 from Nagasaki University, 6 from Shandong University (China), 4 from Sungkyunkwan University (Korea), 2 from the National University of Laos, and 1 from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).

With Mode 3 scheduled to conclude in March 2026, the meeting reviewed the five-year initiative launched in 2021 and discussed its achievements and challenges. Over the past five years, a total of 264 students participated in four exchange programs—(1) Double Degree Program, (2) Short-Term Exchange Program, (3) Hybrid Exchange Program, and (4) ASEAN Expanded Exchange Program—as well as international symposiaums and other activities. These initiatives significantly strengthened the human resource development framework among the five universities and contributed to the cultivation of global talent.

Furthermore, the establishment of the International Collaboration Laboratory has invigorated inter-university research cooperation and faculty exchange, while the promotion of alumni association activities has further enhanced the overall program. At the same time, participating universities identified some challenges related to the project. Going forward, we will continue to develop the program while addressing these challenges and strengthening collaboration among universities.

Regarding Mode 4, for which a new application is planned in 2026, Nagasaki University presented an overview and proposed a basic plan. Based on this proposal, the five universities will establish a Mode 4 Preparatory Committee and proceed with discussions toward submitting the new application.

The Inter-University Exchange Project (CAMPUS Asia), under which universities in Japan, China, Korea, Singapore, and Laos have collaborated to foster global talent in the infrastructure field, will conclude Mode 3 in March 2026. To further build upon the achievements to date, the five universities will continue to work closely together as they advance preparations for the launch of Mode 4.

Following the main meeting, a networking event was held, bringing together alumni who had previously participated in the Double Degree Program and the Short-Term Exchange Program. Alumni currently working in the infrastructure sector in Japan, China, and South Korea delivered presentations, which sparked lively discussions among the participants.

Group Photo of Conference Participants

CAMPUS Asia Alumni at Networking Event

On November 26-27, Nagasaki University hosted the 2nd CAMPUS Asia International Symposium, inviting 20 master’s and doctoral students from four partner universities: Shandong University (China), Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and Nagasaki University.

The students presented their research in their respective fields either in person or online. Following each 15-minute presentation, a Q&A session was held, facilitating lively exchanges of views and ideas among the students. The participating students appeared inspired by the research content and attitudes of their peers from other countries, making this an excellent opportunity to further advance their own research approaches and perspectives. In addition to the research presentations, the event included a social gathering with visiting students and faculty, as well as a sightseeing tour in Nagasaki city. This symposium provided a valuable opportunity not only for research exchange but also for deepening mutual understanding between NU students and the visiting students from China and South Korea.

Group Photo of All Participants (Faculty & Students)

Opening Remarks by NU Prof. Kiyoshi Omine (Director of the Civil and Engineering Course)

Presentation Session

Poster Presentation

Nagasaki City Tour

An ASEAN-Expanded Exchange Program was implemented from August 20 through September 21, 2025, and two faculty members and two master’s degree students from National University of Laos were invited to Nagasaki University to exchange research information and explore future possibilities of research collaboration. During their stay, the faculty members visited the laboratories of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Course and exchanged information with Professor Toshihiro Okumatsu and Associate Professor Takafumi Nishikawa of the Structural Engineering Laboratory.

Master’s degree students were assigned to the laboratory of Associate Professor Kenji Sasaki in the Structural Engineering Course and conducted research activities and information exchange under his supervision for one month.

Starting July 12, 2025, a “Hybrid Short-Term Academic Exchange Program” was conducted by five universities: Nagasaki University, Shandong University (China), Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea), National University of Laos, and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). This program is part of the “CAMPUS Asia Program,” which aims to cultivate globally active infrastructure professionals. Participating students traveled from Korea to China and then to Japan, engaging in programs at each university to deepen their understanding of each country’s infrastructure conditions and cultural differences. The program was delivered in a hybrid format, combining ① online lectures (7/12-8/2) and ② on-site programs at each university (8/9-26). This year, a total of 38 students from four universities participated: NU (14), SKKU (11), SDU (11), and NUOL (2).



Programs at each university included special lectures, local language lesson, cultural experiences, city tour, and infrastructure site visits. At Nagasaki University, participants took a one-night trip to Isahaya, Sasebo, and Hirado to observe infrastructure construction sites such as dam, expressway viaduct, and tunnel. An exchange session with CAMPUS Asia alumni was also held. On the final day of the program, a presentation session was held where participants presented the outcomes of their group work and shared their experiences gained through the study abroad program and student exchanges.



Furthermore, Nagasaki University sent two students each to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and National University of Laos (NUOL). In Singapore, in addition to visiting NTU, the students participated in a three-day internship program at the Japanese-affiliated company Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd., where they had the opportunity to observe infrastructure construction sites. This firsthand experience overseas during the internship was a rare and valuable opportunity that could influence their future career choices.



In Laos, NUOL organized a special program for two NU and one SKKU students, which included: ① presentations by students from each university, ② infrastructure lectures, ③ construction site visit, and ④ city tour. This program deepened their understanding of the infrastructure situation in Laos and enhanced their appreciation of the local culture and people through interactions with NUOL students.

The Campus Asia Program Mode 3, which has facilitated exchanges among five participating universities, will conclude in March 2026. Through ongoing program evaluation and improvement, it has delivered high-quality content and invaluable opportunities for students, achieving significant outcomes as the culmination of Mode 3.

On December 6, 2024, the 4th Consortium Meeting of CAMPUS Asia Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Sustainable Infrastructure Development was held at Shandong University, China. A total of 31 participants from five participating universities (7 from Nagasaki University, 2 from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea, 19 from Shandong University in China, 2 from National University of Laos, and 1 from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore) attended this consortium meeting.

In the opening remarks, each university reviewed and commented that the CAMPUS Asia Program contributed significantly to nurturing global human resources for infrastructure development, by constantly improving DD Program, Short-Term Exchange program, and introducing a credit transfer system. In addition, the participants expressed their hope that the establishment of the International Collaboration Laboratory would lead to further cooperation between universities, soliciting more active research collaboration and faculty exchanges.

The main topics of this meeting were as follows:
1) 2024 Implementation Report on four major programs
 a) Hybrid Short-Term Exchange Program
 b) Double Degree Program (DD)
 c) ASEAN Expanded Short-Term Exchange Program
 d) International Collaboration Laboratory
2) 2025 Implementation Plan
3) Discussion to further improve the quality of the program

Regarding the implementation plan for 2025, all participants agreed on the proposed schedule and number of exchange students for the four major programs. Regarding the ASEAN Expanded Short-Term Exchange Program, Nagasaki University announced its plan to continue to accept students from the National University of Laos (NUOL), as well as to dispatch students to both NUOL and Nanyang Technological University in FY2025. It was also agreed that an international symposium and alumni event would be held simultaneously at Nagasaki University in late 2025.

After the meeting, Shandong University hosted “The Second Research Exchange Seminar” to promote research exchange between universities. From Nagasaki University, Professor Tomoaki Itayama and Associate Professor Shinta Seto presented their research results.

The third mode of the CAMPUS Asia Program will come to an end in March 2026. Since FY2025 will be the final year of the program, five universities have confirmed that they will continue to work closely to further enhance the quality of the program in 2025.

An ASEAN-Expanded Exchange Program was implemented from August 22 through September 17, 2024, and one faculty member and one master’s degree student from National University of Laos were invited to Nagasaki University to exchange research information　and explore the future possibilities of research collaboration. Both were accepted to the laboratory of Civil and Environmental Engineering Program and undertook research activities and information exchange under the supervision of Associate Professor Takafumi Nishikawa (Structural Engineering Lab) for 27 days.

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.

The 7th Working-Level Round-Table Meeting on Campus Asia Program was held online on April 23, with the participation of Shandong University (China), Sungkyunkwan University (Korea), National University of Laos, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and Nagasaki University. At this meeting, discussions were held mainly on the “2024 Hybrid Short-Term Exchange Program”, and this year’s host, Sungkyunkwan University, gave a detailed explanation on the implementation plan. As a result, it was decided that the overall schedule would be from July 13 to August 28, with online lectures from July to early August, followed by the actual study abroad program in the order of Korea, China, and Japan. After the program at Nagasaki University, additional study abroad programs in Laos and Singapore are also planned, depending on how the academic calendars of each university are adjusted. The number of participants and the details of student support plan at each university have largely been decided, and each university will now work on specific preparations, such as recruiting students and adjusting lecture contents and schedules.

Next, NU’s Associate Professor Suzuki explained the plan between Nagasaki University and National University of Laos for the “ASEAN Extended Short-Term Exchange Program,” which will be fully implemented from this academic year. He also said that Nagasaki University will start concrete preparations based on this plan, and that he expects other universities to initiate active discussions between the two universities toward its implementation as well.

Associate Professor Suzuki also explained Nagasaki University’s plan on inviting special research students to NU’s Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology for laboratory exercises, as part of the “International Collaboration Lab” scheme. The International Collaboration Lab is one of the important components of the CAMPUS Asia Program and was launched to boost active research exchange not only among students but also among faculty members.

Lastly, the results of the interim evaluation conducted last fall by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) were released last month, and it was reported that this program received an “A” grade. The comments from the Ministry were also shared, and the meeting was concluded with the confirmation that the five universities will continue to cooperate with each other to further enhance the program and ensure its smooth and steady implementation.