カテゴリー: Bonn-topics

Japanese / English

On December 13, the Japan-Germany Student Exchange Club (Baumkuchen Club) held its 2016 Christmas Party with more than 20 participants in attendance. German students, Japanese tutors, Professor Keiichi Aizawa (Bonn Office Director), and other professors joined the event.

The program had a German student playing the flute to “O Christmas Tree” and “Silent Night” while the participants enjoyed singing along to the music in German. They also enjoyed partaking of Director Aizawa’s special German soup as well as homemade cakes brought by the participants. The Tsukuba event made the German students feel the Christmas spirit as if they were back home.

The club holds regular weekly meetings. During the first meeting of the year (January 10), the club had ‘mochi’ or Japanese rice cake as the theme – wherein members held presentations on, as well as tasting of, the traditional Japanese new year delicacy.

The Christmas party is an annual event, among other various events, organized by the Baumkuchen Club. Last October, they held a mountaineering event to Mt. Tsukuba. For 2017, they are planning an excursion to Makabe Town in Sakuragawa City (just north of Tsukuba) which is famous for its classical storehouses and its Doll Festival. The excursion, scheduled in February, will also include students from France and Russia.

For those who are interested in the Baumkuchen Club, please visit their website (in Japanese): http://www.germanistik.jp/baumkuchen/
http://www.germanistik.jp/baumkuchen/

Japanese / English

From 13 to 23 November 2016 the University of Tsukuba Office in cooperation with Waseda University held several information events at international schools in Germany, France and the Netherlands.

In addition to the International School of Düsseldorf, the International School Frankfurt-Rhein-Main and the International School of Amsterdam, this year marked the first visit of the Bavarian International School in Munich and the International School of Paris. All in all the events were visited by more than 140 students and their parents.

Showcasing Tsukuba’s particularities such as the international environment on campus and the elaborate student support system the presentation furthermore informed the students on enrolling with an international high school degree.

After the presentations questions from the audience ensued, vividly demonstrating the students interest in the two universities.

Japanese / English

On 9 November 2016 Director of the University of Tsukuba Bonn Office Prof. Keiichi Aizawa and Representative Officer Yusaku Nishijima visited the University of Düsseldorf to mark the official conclusion of a new faculty cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Düsseldorf and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Tsukuba through a formal exchange of signed contracts.

A vivid exchange of opinions on the further practical use and possible expansion of the agreement ensued.

Subsequently University of Düsseldorf Vice President for International Relations Prof. Andrea von Hülsen-Esch went on to present some of her universities flagships: Botany, medicine, linguistics, economic sciences (competition economics and business management), gender and peace studies. Prof. Hana Filip of the Department of Linguistics gave a review about the research conducted in her department before showcasing a half-year scholarship program aimed at doctoral students. Prof. Aizawa remarked that the two universities’ scientific focuses overlap in the areas of botany and linguistics.

The meeting thus developed into a conversation highly rewarding for future cooperation.

Japanese / English

On October 26th, 2016, the University of Tsukuba – Bonn Office and Japan – Germany Student Exchange Club (Baumkuchen Club) co-held “Study in Germany Fair 2016” (Fair 2016) and “36th Donau Party” (36th Donau) in Tsukuba Campus. The Fair 2016 was under the sponsorship of the University of Tsukuba – Global Commons and Der Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) – Tokyo Office.

“Study in Germany Fair” is an annual event for the purpose of encouraging students of the University of Tsukuba to study abroad in Germany and providing necessary information. “Donau Party”, which often takes place after the fair, has been held for more than 30 years to provide a precious opportunity for not only the ones who study German or do research on German culture and society, but also the ones who are interested in Europe or wish to get to know German students.

Professor AIZAWA Keiichi, Director of Bonn Office chaired the Fair 2016. After his greeting at the opening, Ms. BLECKEN from the Department of PR & Marketing, DAAD Tokyo made a speech in Japanese to introduce advantages of studying in Germany and scholarship system. The title of her speech was “Why Study in Germany?”.

After Ms. BLECKEN’s speech, 11 German students from the University of Bonn, Free University of Berlin, University of Cologne, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and University of Bayreuth and 10 Japanese students of the University of Tsukuba, who are their tutors during the stay in Japan, introduced each university. The German students made a vivid description about studying, researching environment and student life of their own universities, as well as history and culture of the state or city that the universities are located in, by showing various pictures and materials brought in from Germany. The Japanese students that had experienced studying abroad life in Germany teamed up with the German ones to talk about their own stories.

Thanks to their introduction and stories, the audience of the Fair 2016 may easily feel how attractive Germany is and advantageous to study abroad in the country. Moreover, the Ruhr University Bochum and University of Düsseldorf that had executed cooperation agreement with the University of Tsukuba this summer also provided the Fair 2016 with a lot of materials. The number of students from the University of Tsukuba studying in Germany has been gradually increasing and lately exceeded more than 10 students in recent years. It is expected that more students will take advantage of these cooperation agreements between the universities to study abroad for more enjoyable student life.

At the 36th Donau Party, the participants enjoyed ham, wine and bread, etc. while chatting. At the end of the events, Assistant Professor ABE Junichi P., Vice – director of Bonn Office and Mr. KATO Sawao, one of the founders of Donau Party who is also famous for having won twelve Olympic medals (including eight gold medals), gave speeches. We look forward to more attend next year.

Please click the link below for more information on studying abroad in Germany:

http://www.germanistik.jp/austausch/frageundantwort.html

Besides, DAAD Tokyo has already published an article of the events on the website. Many links to some scholarship programs suggested by DAAD are being introduced therein. Please take a look at the article if you are interested in:

http://tokyo.daad.de/wp/2016/11/
http://tokyo.daad.de/wp/2016/11/

Japanese / English

On 11 October 2016 University of Tsukuba alumnus photography critic and art historian Kotaro Iizawa gave a presentation about the topic of photography in the Japanese northeast at the Japanese Cultural Institute Cologne (JKI)

Iizawa described the travelling exhibition “Tohoku – The Japanese northeast”, which he curated himself and is shown from 9 September until 19 November 2016 at the JKI, picture by picture. In the subsequent lively question and answer sessions the more than 50 present visitors asked questions about the picture selection and the influence of the 2011 earthquake on Japanese photographers.

Japanese / English

On 10 October 2016 University of Tsukuba Vice President Prof. Makoto Itoh visited the University of Cologne, one of the University of Tsukuba’s many partner universities.

First Johannes Müller of the University of Cologne’s international office gave insight into the “Global Study Program”, which is a program consisting of lectures held in English. Then Vice President Itoh went on to meet four students of the University of Tsukuba currently enrolled in this very program. The visit was concluded with talks with Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Jagodzinski, who is in charge of the international exchange with Japan, and Prof. Dr. Monika Unkel of the University of Cologne’s department of Japanese studies.

Japanese / English

On 28 September 2016 Yusaku Nishijima of the University of Tsukuba Bonn Office attended the International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main (ISF) University Fair.

More than 20 universities hailing from Germany, the United States, Great Britain, Japan and many more countries showcased their universities and attracted about 175 11 and 12 year students.

The individual universities then provided further information to the students at their booths.

The University of Tsukuba in particular presented their undergraduate programs taught exclusively in English, International Social Studies and Life and Environmental Sciences, and informed about the procedures of entry examinations for International Baccalaureate (IB) graduates.

Japanese / English

The second overseas alumni conference was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center last September 18, 2016. This year, invited participants encompassed 13 regions of the world (from 9 regions last year), with a team formed from each region that included the current leader of the student association as well as his/her alumni counterpart. After each region presented on their networking activities, group discussions were conducted on how to further improve Tsukuba networking. Participants committed themselves to future cooperation and collaboration, and even some detailed plans have already been hatched during the conference.

Germany Team is represented by Ms. Maria Pastukhova and Mr. Adrian Witt. Ms. Maria used to study at the University of Tsukuba and is currently in charge of the German Tsukuba Society in Berlin (She is now working at German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)). Mr. Adrian Witt had studied in Tsukuba and just came back as a research student of Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, International and Advanced Japanese Studies. Not only their persuasive presentations but also the activities of Germany Team that were shared while exchanging the ideals and information, and debating with other teams strongly impressed the hall.

Presentations were rated by and among the participants themselves, with Team Germany won the Best Activity Plan Award (while Team China winning the Tsukuba Networking Best Performance Award). The result exceeded the expectations of more active activities from Germany Team in the future.

Please click the following URL to download the presentation slides of 13 teams.

https://global-alumni.sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/news/single.php?seq=58