Six students from Florida International University (FIU), a university with which Kochi University of Technology (KUT) has an exchange agreement, have been enrolled as research interns*1. They will be participating in research activities alongside our students under the guidance of Vice President Akimitsu Hatta, Professor Chaoyang Li, and Professor Hiroshi Furuta from School of Systems Engineering (Electronic and Photonic Engineering). The internship will last for approximately two months, concluding on August 12th.

Founded in 1965 in Miami, Florida, FIU is a prominent public university. With a student population exceeding 50,000, it stands as one of the largest universities in the United States. In April 2022, KUT and FIU signed an exchange agreement aimed at fostering the exchange of faculty, researchers, students, and academic information, as well as collaborative research endeavors. This partnership seeks to complement each other's research strengths and promote mutual development. This ongoing collaboration stems from the joint talent development project between FIU and KUT, titled "the US-Japan Collaborative Research and Education Effort for Synthesis and Applications of Functional Nanomaterials, Advanced Nanomaterials, and Applications." Initiated in the previous academic year, this marks the second intake of students from FIU. The focus of research includes functional materials, spanning fields such as engineering, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. Notably, the outcomes of this research have been presented at domestic conferences, including the Joint Academic Conference of the Applied Physics and Physics Societies of the Chugoku-Shikoku Branch, held on July 29th at Shimane University. A workshop was also organized at Kami campus of KUT, where poster presentations were conducted. As project leaders of the IRES*² program, Professor Chunlei Wang and Professor Nezih Pala from FIU also attended.

In addition to engaging in research endeavors, six students from FIU have also actively participated in a range of activities. These activities have been designed to enhance their experiences while promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. As part of our efforts to encourage KUT students' participation in overseas master's research programs, we conducted English preparatory training sessions with significant assistance from FIU students. These training sessions were aimed at equipping our students, who are scheduled for studying abroad, with the necessary language skills and cultural insights. Furthermore, the FIU students played an integral role in "English Boot Camp," an event organized to foster cross-cultural understanding of KUT Japanese students. Beyond academic pursuits, the FIU students also immersed themselves in local community interactions. They participated in English classes at Kuzume Elementary School in Kami City, forging connections with local residents and contributing to English language education for local children. Embracing Japanese culture, the students joined the Tea Ceremony Club's Star Festival Tea Ceremony, savoring traditional tea in a serene environment. Additionally, they embarked on a bus tour to the Kansai region, including Kyoto and Osaka, where they had the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of Japan's western heartland. Through these diverse activities, the research intern students from FIU not only actively pursued research objectives but also deepened their cultural appreciation and cross-cultural communication skills.

This collaborative approach underscores our commitment to fostering a globalized educational environment and strengthening ties with international partner institutions. Currently, Kochi University of Technology has established exchange agreements with 60 universities from 19 countries, including FIU. Through these agreements, KUT has actively engaged in international exchange activities, hosting 56 foreign exchange students.

*1 Within this framework, our "Research Interns" refer to students enrolled at other universities who engage in research experiences under the guidance of our faculty members.
*2 This initiative is part of the "International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program," which was selected for funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States in its 2021 cycle. Implemented over a three-year period, this project serves to strengthen collaborative research and educational ties between institutions.

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