In the Fall Semester of Academic Year 2009, three students from the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) at Delft University of Technology came to SDM and three of our students went there. Both schools were satisfied with the results and are discussing increases of the number of exchange students next year. Ms. Nonaka and Mr. Karai, both 2nd year masters' course students, gave excellent masters research presentations that demonstrated how much they had grown. Ms. Son, a 1st year masters' course student, brought back a large number of credits and excellent grades from the TPM.
During Academic Year 2009, three students attended the Renault/HEC/Ecole Polytechnique joint course, and in Academic Year 2010 we plan to add a program to further increase their numbers.
Ms. Tomomi Nonaka, center
Report from Ms. Tomomi Nonaka
I was part of the Energy & Industry Group in the Faculty of TPM at Delft University of Technology, where I continued to work on my masters' research. It was a very cosmopolitan environment, with exchange students accounting for about 60% of the total. My days were filled with discussions with other members handling energy issues, and they produced a series of discoveries and insights that broadened my perspectives. I will always treasure the acquaintances I made with teachers, students and friends inside and outside the university. There were many surprises just in ordinary, day-to-day life. I learned that the systems and customs we take for granted in Japan may be completely different in other parts of the world. I was taught much by my friends' values and views on life. I would like to express my deep gratitude to SDM for giving me this opportunity, and I recommend that students coming up take advantage of this excellent exchange program.
Mr. Tadashi Karai
Report from Mr. Tadashi Karai
I studied a bit about the Netherlands before the trip. Terms of size, it's roughly equivalent to Kyushu, with a population about 13% of Japan's, but per capita GDP 1.35 fold Japan's. I was very interested to see what kind of lifestyle and what kind of thinking would produce this. What I found was an atmosphere that was in touch with cultures and information around the world. On the streets, people not only from the EU, but from Africa and Asia, and indeed from everywhere in the world, live together naturally. That provides the setting in which students study and discuss, and I was impressed by the flexibility that allowed them to accept the cultures and thinking of other countries. There are some issues too, like the dilution of cultural identity, but I felt like this was one answer to the problems confronting Japan.
Ms. Sun Hongmei, left
Report from Ms. Sun Hongmei
I was an exchange student at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands from September 2009 to January 2010. It was thrilling; I can still remember the beautiful scenery, splendid university and kind people. For 5 months, I used English to listen to classes, conduct group works, write reports, make presentations and go about my life. Before going, I could barely speak English, but I feel like I can now use it in all of its facets: listening, speaking, reading and writing. I gained new confidence in my abilities by starting a workshop and by enrolling in, passing and receiving credits for six subjects. I think I'm now better able to be active on an international stage. I want to thank SDM for giving me the opportunity to study abroad. I hope that I can serve as a bridge between it and the Faculty of TPM at Delft University of Technology, and that I can become a person that both schools can be proud of.