Participants engaged in academic exchange through the common language of specialized knowledge, an experience unique to the School of Science and Technology
The School of Science and Technology held its academic exchange program, “Discover India,” from February 24 to 28 at SRM University-AP in Andhra Pradesh, India.
The initiative was conducted as an overseas program offered by the School of Science and Technology to promote international academic exchange. The school sent one faculty member and four students to India. Located in India, a country experiencing rapid economic growth, SRM University is a comprehensive university with strong educational and research capabilities. As the university places particular emphasis on research in the fields of science and engineering and has achieved notable results, the program was made possible with support from a corporate sponsor.
During the program, participants gave research presentations and held discussions with researchers and students from SRM University on a wide range of topics in science and engineering, including electrical and electronic engineering, physics, environmental information engineering, and mathematics. The program also provided opportunities to interact with local industry through an engineering-related site visit to a beverage manufacturer’s production plant in Andhra Pradesh. Through active exchanges between the Meiji University participants and their counterparts at SRM University, the program proved to be a meaningful opportunity that could support the further development of their research.
Comment from participating faculty member
Assistant Professor JIMBO Koki (Department of Mechanical Engineering Informatics, School of Science and Technology)
I experienced firsthand the energy and drive of local young people in India through interactions with students from diverse backgrounds. In the academic exchange activities, I saw many examples of engineering research closely connected to local issues such as environmental pollution, and I gained valuable insights that led me to think deeply about broader issues that transcend national borders. The four students who accompanied me also actively interacted with local students and were greatly inspired. In addition to the academic aspects, the program included cultural experiences such as participating in a university festival and visiting a temple barefoot, making the program an extremely meaningful opportunity.
Comments from participating students
KATO Sora (Fourth-year student, Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science and Technology)
I was struck by the state-of-the-art facilities and research topics, and my desire to become a researcher who can be active on the global stage grew even stronger. I also found it refreshing that people in India were friendly and that conversations developed naturally. Although there were moments when I was surprised by differences in culture and values, I came to find those differences interesting and realized the importance of viewing different cultures as sources of new discovery.
OKA Hiroshi (Fourth-year student, Department of Mechanical Engineering Informatics, School of Science and Technology)
Learning about advanced research on biosignal measurement and medical applications was highly stimulating academically and gave me a valuable opportunity to reflect on my own field of specialization. Although the conversations were in English, I was pleased to find that I could make myself clearly understood. I felt that the experience of trying to communicate in a different cultural setting was extremely important.
At the conclusion of the program, participants visited a historic temple in Amaravati and experienced the depth of cultural heritage dating back to before the Common Era — a contrast to the latest research facilities
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