In May 2023, the inbound program finally resumed, bringing with it the long-anticipated moment when we could host our first guests from Hong Kong IVE. During their visit, they toured our school, exploring laboratories in the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, participating in after-school club activities like the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Archery, and going on an excursion to Hagi after attending a special lecture about the history of Yamaguchi prefecture.

By summer, several programs were in full swing to revive our outbound program. Six students were selected for “Tobitate: Study Abroad Initiative Program 2023,” with four of them embarking on journeys to their dream destinations: Cebu, Gold Coast, and Stockholm this summer. The other two are preparing for adventures to Hong Kong and Germany during the spring break.

The Internship program in Malaysia, particularly noteworthy among our international exchange programs, also reopened its doors after an extended break caused by the pandemic. This year, two students visited Penang to learn about information management and safety management at PASMY, Panasonic Malaysia while savoring the delicious street foods of the region.

Furthermore, during this summer, we organized English language programs in Cebu, Philippines, where six students participated in courses lasting from two to four weeks. They had the opportunity to interact with other Kosen students from the Kyushu area while receiving one-on-one lessons every day. This program is going to be a central component of our language program abroad.