15 students from the University of Tohoku (Japan) came to the Novosibirsk State University as part of the Tohoku University Cross-Cultural Program with Russia 2017 (TUCPR 2017).
Over a two week period, the young people will take courses in Russian language and Russian culture, as well as to get acquainted with Siberian reality. The program includes tours of the city and discussions with Russian students.
The exchange program was implemented for the first time by the universities in 2015. That year 10 Japanese students came to NSU.
— Among the guests are students from different faculties. At home they are studying chemistry, law, agricultural science, economics, physics etc. We have been cooperating with Tohoku since 2003, and the first student visit to the program took place in February 2015. Two of the students subsequently came back to NSU for an internship; one is here right now. Representatives of NSU give details about the faculties to students so they know what we have to offer and the subjects they could come to study in the future, like their colleagues from the previous group, says the administrator of the Japan Center at the NSU Humanitarian Institute, Anna Kim.
Classes for Japanese students have already begun, however, according to the host, the cultural program balances the busy schedule. During their first few days in Akademgorodok, the Japanese delegation has visited the Railway Technology Museum and the institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In addition, Japanese representatives met Russian students at an open lecture about Tohoku University.
