カテゴリー: TUAN-topics

The 5th The 5th University of Tsukuba Alumni Reunion Held in India on May 20, 2026.

The Tsukuba University Alumni Association in India currently has 16 members, reflecting the steady growth of the local alumni community.

The gathering has become a valuable opportunity for alumni to reconnect, strengthen their ties, and foster a sense of community.

Through these ongoing activities, the alumni network in India is expected to continue expanding, promoting closer connections among graduates and further strengthening the TUAN community.

TUAN (Tsukuba Universal Alumni Network) is pleased to announce that the 3rd TUAN General Meeting and Career Talk Event will be held in a hybrid format on 2 October, 2026.

In addition to the TUAN General Meeting and activity report, the event will feature career talks by alumni.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences and career journeys of alumni working in a wide range of fields.

The event will also provide a valuable opportunity for alumni, current students, and faculty and staff members to connect, exchange ideas, and build new relationships.

Whether attending in person or online, we warmly welcome participation from members of the University of Tsukuba community both in Japan and around the world.

Event Overview

Date and Time: Friday, October 2, 2026, 14:00–16:30 (JST)
Format: Hybrid (On-site and Online)
Venue: Second Conference Room, University Hall A, University of Tsukuba

Program (Tentative):

• TUAN General Meeting
• Career Talks by  Alumni
• Student-Organized Program

Further details regarding registration and participation will be announced in due course.

To receive the latest event updates and registration information, please register with T-Net.

T-Net: Tsukuba Alumni Network（T-Net)｜Networking site for Univ of Tsukuba alumni

Event updates and registration information will be sent to the registered email addresses of eligible members.

We look forward to your participation.

TUAN (Tsukuba Universal Alumni Network) is pleased to announce that the second TUAN Reunion in Malaysia will be held on 31 August, 2026.

The inaugural reunion, held last year, welcomed many alumni residing in Malaysia and provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with fellow graduates and strengthen ties with the University of Tsukuba.

This year’s reunion will offer alumni an opportunity to renew friendships, reminisce about their student days, and exchange updates and experiences while building new connections within the alumni community. We also hope that the event will provide an opportunity to learn about recent developments at the University and to reconnect with your alma mater.

Further details regarding the program, venue, and registration process will be announced in due course.

To receive the latest event updates and an official invitation, please register with T-Net by the end of June 2026.

T-Net: Tsukuba Alumni Network（T-Net)｜Networking site for Univ of Tsukuba alumni

Invitations and event information will be sent to the registered email addresses of eligible members.

We look forward to welcoming you to the reunion.

(Highlights from the TUAN Reunion in Malaysia 2025 )

Overview:

This program is conducted as part of TUAN (Tsukuba Universal Alumni Network) initiatives. It provides opportunities for one-on-one English interaction between international students and university staff to enhance staff members’ English proficiency, communication skills, and cross-cultural understanding, thereby strengthening their ability to operate in an international environment. It also promotes ongoing interaction, contributes to the “internationalization of everyday campus life,” and fosters connections between international students and the TUAN network.

Schedule:
Early June to late December 2026 (schedule arranged between each pair)

Venue:
On campus or online (to be arranged between participants)

Eligibility:
International students enrolled at the University of Tsukuba (meeting eligibility requirements):

・Have permission for part-time work
・Possess strong English-speaking skills
・Are reliable, punctual, and enthusiastic
・Are interested in TUAN activities and willing to support the TUAN General Meeting (October 2, 2026)

How to Apply:
Please apply by completing the application form below:

https://forms.office.com/r/Ni6cWZH4jf

Application Deadline:
Friday, May 15, 2026, 12:00 PM (JST)

Reference URL:
https://twins.tsukuba.ac.jp/campusweb/campussquare.do?_flowExecutionKey=_cF110A035-36C3-D38F-0698-1C6A0359E88D_k35383DD1-9D74-C3F2-E25B-E7C447283192

Organizer:
TUAN (Tsukuba Universal Alumni Network),
Global Commons, Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba

Contact:
Email: gc-kikusei@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
Tel: 029-853-2048

Hello! This is TISS OWL! | 筑波大学 社会・国際学群

We are delighted to share the activities of a student in the School of Social and International Studies, who has been studying abroad at our CiC partner institution, Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) in France since September 2025.

As part of his efforts to introduce Japanese culture during his exchange program, he planned and hosted a “Hinamatsuri Cultural Exchange” for UGA students on March 11 (Wed) and March 13 (Fri), 2026.

During the event, participants created traditional Hinamatsuri ornaments—such as paper hina dolls and lanterns—using origami. They also cooked chirashi-zushi, a classic dish enjoyed during the festival. It became a wonderful hands-on opportunity for local students to experience and enjoy Japanese traditions together.

He also gave a short presentation on origami, introducing the work of Professor MITANI Jun, a leading researcher in origami engineering at the University of Tsukuba, and explaining how origami-based technologies are applied in fields such as space engineering. Students listened with great interest, fascinated by the connection between Japanese culture and advanced science.

The event offered a meaningful opportunity for cultural exchange, deepening mutual understanding between UGA students and he through this uniquely Japanese celebration.

We are truly pleased and encouraged to see University of Tsukuba students actively sharing Japanese culture and the university’s unique research with their host communities while abroad. We look forward to his continued success in Grenoble and beyond.

On March 4, 2026, three students from the College of Information Science participated in an official visit to the Gradignan City Hall in France as part of the short-term study program currently being held at the IUT de Bordeaux (University Institute of Technology, University of Bordeaux).

This program is offered to students of the School of Informatics and is being conducted at the IUT de Bordeaux—one of the University of Tsukuba’s CiC partner institutions—from February 26 to March 24, 2026. The program is organized and supervised by Associate Professor Claus Aranha of the Institute of Engineering, Information and Systems, together with Professors Serge Bouter, Timothée Lévi, Sophie Cartier, and Bruno Mery of the IUT de Bordeaux.

Although a meeting with the Mayor of Gradignan, Mr. Michel Labardin, had initially been planned, it was not realized due to his commitments related to the upcoming mayoral election scheduled for March 2026.

Instead, the students were warmly welcomed by Ms. Claire Rivenc, a city councilor in charge of international relations and partnerships with the University of Bordeaux. Under her guidance, the students, accompanied by Professors Serge Bouter, Timothée Lévi, Nicholas Journet, and Sophie Cartier, as well as a number of University of Bordeaux students, visited the city-run Musée de la Vigne et du Vin (Museum of Vine and Wine). There, they learned about the history of winemaking and viticulture in the Bordeaux region and viewed tools and materials historically used in grape cultivation.

Gradignan is known as a university town that hosts the IUT de Bordeaux and actively promotes international exchange through partnerships with sister cities. This visit provided the participating students with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the local community and its culture.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the faculty members of the IUT de Bordeaux for organizing this visit, and to Ms. Claire Rivenc and the staff of Gradignan City Hall for their kind hospitality.

Musées – Ville de Gradignan 

The fourth TUAN alumni gathering in India was held on February 18, 2026.

With the addition of new members, a total of eight alumni took part, enjoying a warm and convivial atmosphere as they reconnected and strengthened old ties.

With each successive meeting, the circle of participants has continued to expand, reflecting the steady establishment of a vibrant alumni network in the region.

Regular gatherings are expected to further reinforce the bonds among alumni in India and contribute to the continued growth and development of the community.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Dr. NGO THI LAN PHUONG, Representative of the Tsukuba Universal Alumni Network (TUAN), organized TUAN in Hanoi in collaboration with local alumni.
The reunion was attended by six alumni, along with two staff members currently participating in the University’s international short-term training program, providing an opportunity for cross-generational and interdisciplinary.

Participants shared their memories of their time at the University of Tsukuba and exchanged views on the University’s current situation. The event also served as a valuable opportunity to reconnect with alumni who are actively contributing to a wide range of fields in Vietnam.
Lively discussions were held regarding the future development of TUAN in Vietnam, and participants reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation aimed at further promoting alumni engagement.

TUAN will continue to work toward expanding its network to strengthen connections among alumni and related stakeholders

On Thursday, December 11, 2025, staff members from University of Tsukuba participating in a short-term training program visited Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and held an exchange of views with Associate Professor Chomnard Sittisarn.

Associate Professor Chomnard is an alumnus of University of Tsukuba’s and is currently affiliated with the Department of Oriental Languages, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University.

During the meeting, various changes surrounding the University of Tsukuba were discussed.

In addition, information was shared regarding the process by which overseas students studying Japanese language and culture pursue study opportunities in Japan, as well as examples drawn from Associate Professor Chomnard’s experience in supervising students studying abroad in Japan.

These discussions provided valuable insights for further strengthening the University of Tsukuba’s international network.

At the conclusion of the visit, as a token of appreciation, TUAN merchandise and cho-come, a new product developed through a collaboration between the University of Tsukuba and local companies, were presented to Associate Professor Chomnard.

Reference:https://sites.google.com/view/japanese-cu/about-us/staff/chomnard