OQEANOUS Plus ProgramOversea Quality-assured Education in Asian Nations
for Ocean University Students Plus

OQEANOUS Plus-STP Report (KMOU/TUMSAT R5.7-R5.8)

2024.02.16

School of Marine Resources and Environment
Undergraduate Course of Marine Environmental Science
Forth Year of Undergraduate Program
R. O.

　　I have been invited to participate in a short-term study abroad program in the form of an STP within the OQEANOUS Plus program for two weeks from July 29 to August 6, 2023. I believe that this experience will encourage those who are considering participating in this program.

【Motivation for Participation】
　　 I participated in this program because I wanted to experience firsthand the differences in lifestyle and culture between Japan and other countries. I had never visited an Asian country that is located close to Japan, so I decided to participate in this program because I thought it would be a unique opportunity.

【Experiences in STP】
　　I spent roughly the first week in Korea and the next week in Japan.
　　In Korea, I visited the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, where I toured laboratories and training ships. As one might expect, Korea is very close to Japan, and there were many similarities between Korea and Japan. We also visited a local museum. Here, we were able to learn about the local way of thinking and how the culture was created by viewing materials related to Korea's hometown and climate. We also had time for cultural exchange with local students and were able to tour around tourist spots. I especially enjoyed the Korean food I had there, such as Samgyeopsal, which was very delicious.
　　After returning to Japan, we were gathered with Thai, Malaysian, and Chinese students and visited Idea Corporation's Environmental Creation Research Institute in Shizuoka Prefecture and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology's Oizumi Station in Yamanashi Prefecture. At the Idea Corporation facility, the group toured state-of-the-art facilities that we would not normally see, and engaged in hands-on activities to learn about the company's daily operations. The Oizumi Station was a secluded facility deep in the mountains, but the research was extremely interesting and cutting-edge. After returning to Tokyo, we toured the Shinagawa and Etchujima campuses. In Japan, we guided them around and took them on sightseeing tours. It was a valuable experience for us as well, as we could not usually see the reactions of foreign people to Japanese culture.

【About Language】　　
　　In this program, before going abroad, we were given an online lecture by a professor from each

country who introduced his/her research. We believe that English language skills are necessary to properly understand the lectures. On the other hand, the OQEANOUS Plus program is held in Asian countries, so there are few native English speakers. That means it is better you are good English speaker for smooth communication, but not necessary.

【Conclusion】　　
　　The STP program is a short program, lasting only about two weeks. In addition, thanks to the cooperation of the government, universities, and companies, students are able to participate in the program without having to pay for airfare and lodging. The university coordinators are also very supportive, so even those who would like to go abroad for the first time can participate in the program with confidence.
　　Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program.
　　I intend to make use of what I learned in this program and feed it back to my daily research activities.