SDM sent a number of students overseas on exchange programs during AY2010. Last year, we began an exchange program with the TPM (Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management) at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in which three students from each university participated. This year, five students from each university participated. We also began new programs with the National Institute of Applied Science (INSA) Toulouse in France (three students), the DIG (Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering) at Politecnico di Milano (two students currently abroad) and D-MTEC (Department of Management, Technology, and Economics) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (two students currently abroad).
Exchange students returning from TU Delft TPM and INSA Toulouse have developed clearer goals and objectives thanks to the classes they took and the research guidance they received. Their time abroad also improved their academic abilities, communication skills, and global perspectives.
We are now in the process of setting up exchange programs with institutions in the United States and Australia for AY2011.
Reports from students visiting TU Delft TPM
Kohei Ogawa (2nd year masters course)
My experience was somewhat unique; I was assigned for half of the year to an outside laboratory that drew on students from TPM, civil engineering, and aerospace engineering. The laboratory consisted of professors, researchers with PhDs, and doctoral course students only. There were no masters students. There were some problems because of the differences in the research environment and guidelines, but for me, a new graduate, it was an extraordinary, life-changing experience to spend time in such an advanced environment. I lived in a dormitory with a shared kitchen, which enabled me to enjoy deeper exchanges with my fellow international students. We're in frequent contact over Facebook and Skype, and I am sure that I will treasure these friendships my entire life. I am extremely thankful to the SDM for providing these kinds of opportunities. I want to make the consistent, day-in-day-out effort that it takes to become the kind of person who can change and delight the world.
Aya Onoe (2nd year masters course)
My four months as an exchange student were intense and went by very quickly. When I returned to Japan, it felt as if I were waking up from a dream. It was an incredible experience to work with the Dutch people, who are so bold and energetic, and who have quite different values from the Japanese. We collaborated on group work, and I also learned a great deal about how to digest material and express it in written form as I tried to tackle the seemingly endless stream of papers and class work. The environment in the Netherlands was so laid-back that it inspired me to join the orchestra, and to travel around wherever my interests took me. It was extraordinary to be able to see the country up close with my own eyes and talk to so many people. This will be a major asset for me as I go forward. My experiences will serve as the inspiration for new efforts and achievements.
Keita Kato (2nd year masters course)
It is a big world. That is my strongest impression from my time studying abroad. While at Delft, I lived in a dorm with students from all over the world. I learned a great deal from them; better communication skills, how to balance study and play, and how to approach things with a sense of humor. My time with them was an experience that I would not exchange for anything. At TPM, we mainly covered new material in class and then broke off into group work. We gained knowledge from the instruction, but we also learned how to collaborate with people who have different cultures and values. TU Delft attracts talented students from all over the world, and I recommend it particularly for students who want to be active on the global stage. You need to experience the breadth of the world from a small town like Delft.
Yukiko Sugizaki (1st year masters course)
It was only five months, but my time at TU Delft was filled with new experiences and knowledge. Three things left particularly strong impressions on me. The first was how tolerant and accepting the Dutch are. When I did not understand something, it was easy to ask questions and people were always friendly in their responses. The second was how many exchange students are at TU Delft TPM. Because the students were from so many different countries and cultures, there were occasional collisions in our group work. However, I gained the attitude of mutual understanding. The third was the opportunity to travel to many different countries. It was easy to get to neighboring countries so I had the opportunity to come in contact with many different cultures, languages, foods, and customs. I made lots of friends, and found the five months to be very meaningful.
Kenta Takahashi (1st year masters course)
I decided to participate in the exchange program at TU Delft because my goal is to work internationally. I had two main purposes. The first was to be able to live on my own overseas, and the second was to improve my English abilities through lectures and group work. At first, it took a great deal of effort to adjust to life in the Netherlands, but ultimately I was able to achieve my goals. My English skills obviously improved, but I also learned a great deal just by being in an international environment in which 60% of the students were exchange students. I am grateful to the SDM and TPM Department for providing the opportunity to participate in a wonderful exchange program like this, and I want to use my experiences to develop into the kind of person that will make both institutions proud.
Reports from students visiting INSA Toulouse
Rehito Numata (2nd year masters course)
While at INSA Toulouse, I did research for my masters degree and took classes in risk engineering. I was able to spend a lot of time with students of many different nationalities, ages and backgrounds, both in the classroom and while traveling. It was a very stimulating environment, and one that gave me many new and important discoveries and insights. I will always treasure the acquaintances that I made with faculty, students, and friends both inside and outside of the school, and I continue to maintain contact with them. Classes at the university were taught in English, but the day-to-day living required French skills as well, and because of that, I think this was a more valuable experience then a study abroad program in an English-speaking country.
Tomoya Kase (2nd year masters course)
I studied risk engineering at INSA Toulouse. It was challenging to be outside of an English speaking country and I was constantly running into language barriers, but in two and a half months I was able to hone my skills and enjoy an extraordinary stimulating environment. While I was in France, Thomas, an SDM masters student, provided introductions to French people in my age group, and I was surprised at how interested they were in everything from manga and anime to J-pop and television programs. The Internet provides easy access to information from around the world, and even things that we in Japan may consider a bit vulgar are quickly picked up on overseas. I do not think we are really aware of this when we are in Japan, but we should probably give a bit more thought to how we are viewed around the world. I am grateful to the SDM for providing this opportunity and I strongly encourage my fellow students to take advantage of these wonderful study abroad programs.