Reporting Meeting and Joint Committee Meeting AY 2019, Inter-University Exchange Programs with Latin America

In 2015, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) granted the University of Tsukuba funding for the "Trans-Pacific Human Capital Development Program" under the framework of "Inter-University Exchange Programs with Latin America". The Program is now in its fifth and final year of implementation. On January 23, 2020, a meeting for the final report was held at the University Hall. In the meeting, the progress of the program was reported and international students and the Japanese students who have experience of studying abroad gave a presentation, to share its 5 years of initiatives and results.

At the meeting, outside experts were invited as a member of the external evaluation committee and the internship committee. The authorities of Japanese universities who were involved in the exchange programs with mainly Latin America attended the meeting. Moreover, from our university, the faculty and staff and the students who experienced studying in Latin America or who are interested in studying abroad attended the meeting.

Starting with an opening address given by Vice President BENTON Caroline F. and a congratulatory speech delivered by Mr. YOSHIOKA Michi, Specialist of the Higher Education Policy Planning Division of the Higher Education Bureau of the MEXT as a guest of honor, Dr. MINOWA Mari, Chair of Program Admission Committee gave an outline of the program and the results and future perspectives. Then two students who experienced studying in Latin America in the exchange program or the short training program and a current international student from Mexico presented the report on the program, furthermore, a video letter from an alumnus of the program who is working in Chile after studying at the University of Chile was presented, which reported the exchange program and what is going on in his life.

During the meeting, there were questions from attendees as follows: risk management system for short-term dispatch, how to motivate students to participate in exchange programs, matching for internship, characteristics of Common Foundation Subjects in different countries, establishing a consortium, and so on. There was a lively discussion.

After the meeting, the joint meeting of the external evaluation committee and the internship committee, which consist of outside experts, were held for an appropriate and objective evaluation of the implementation and results of the program conducted through 5 years.

We are determined to continue our great effort in developing human capital that would serve as a bridge between Japan and Latin America and in promoting exchanges.

Group photo of the attendees

Vice President BENTON delivering an opening address

Meeting for the final report