News and Topics

2022.09.12

The first group of international students to arrive in roughly three years

On August 8, Kwansei Gakuin University restarted its intake of exchange students, and held a coming-to-Japan orientation at the Central Auditorium for the first time in roughly three years. Approximately 180 students from 28 countries and regions, including the USA, Germany, and Taiwan, joined the orientation. Since the 2020 spring semester, exchange students have been unable to enter Japan due to COVID-19 measures. It remained unclear when they would get the chance to go overseas to study abroad, and they voiced their confusion and anxiety to KGU, as well. During that time, KGU provided support for students who wanted to study in Japan through online exchange programs and other initiatives. On the day of the orientation, KGU students and faculty members gave the exchange students a warm welcome, as a markedly international character returned to the Uegahara campus.

The exchange students gathered at 8:30 in the morning, lining up at the reception area beneath a cloudy sky, and relayed their names and numbers before entering the Central Auditorium. Some students had expressions of joy on their faces when they saw the words “Welcome to Kwansei Gakuin University!” up on the screen. The orientation began after 9:00, and Professor Yoshitaka Niizeki of the School of Humanities, who serves as the Dean of the Center for International Education and Cooperation, gave the welcome speech. “For a long time, studying abroad in Japan was suspended due to COVID-19, and I am glad that we can finally greet you on campus face-to-face. We would like to wish all of you a warm welcome to KGU, and we hope that you will have a fulfilling time here,” he said. Afterward, there was an orientation about living in Japan for the exchange students, who will now truly experience Japanese culture for themselves. The incoming exchange team gave them specific pointers and advice regarding topics like train transfers and behavior at restaurants.

In the afternoon, the exchange students moved to Room 101 in Building G, where they were greeted with smiles by KG Buddies, Japanese students who are interested in providing support for exchange students, and the GS Network, a student organization which is responsible for planning and running events to promote interaction between Japanese students and exchange students. One first-year student, who volunteered as a KG Buddy, said that “When I was in high school, events were cancelled across the board, and I felt very sad. That’s why I feel grateful for the opportunities I now have to connect with international people as a university student. I’m looking forward to my university life from now on.”