2024 Overseas Training Program

I went to Indonesia for my overseas training in 2024. We visited mainly laboratories in the field of architecture, and were able to gain new discoveries and connections with our own specialized fields. On the last day of the program, we summarized our opinions on how to deal with social issues by utilizing the information we gained from the training and our own knowledge, and made a presentation. I would like to apply the experience I gained from the overseas training to my future activities.

On the first day of training, We visited a dam called Bendungan Pamukkulu and a mosque called Masjid Kubah 99 Asmaul Husna in Indonesia．
At Bendungan Pamukkulu, We had the opportunity to listen to talks about how dams are constructed, which gave me a valuable chance to learn about architecture, a field We usually don’t get many opportunities to explore. Additionally, through the discussions, We was able to understand how my area of expertise can contribute to the field of architecture. We also toured various parts of the dam and observed how things are actually structured.
At Masjid Kubah 99 Asmaul Husna, We was not only able to view the building’s exterior but also go inside for a tour. During the visit, We had the chance to observe a prayer session taking place. Since daily prayers like this are not a common part of Japanese culture, this experience allowed me to directly sense the differences between Indonesian and Japanese culture.

On the second day of training, We visited Hasanuddin University and had the opportunity to hear talks on various fields! While I found it somewhat challenging since the explanations were given in English, it was very intriguing to hear perspectives that differed from those in Japan across various fields. Learning about areas outside my own specialization gave me a chance to think about how I could apply my expertise in those fields.

On the third day of training, We got a tour of the Electrical and Information Engineering labs at Hasanuddin University. They're working on some pretty cool stuff, like robots that automate crop harvesting and the servers that support their communication networks. Got a sneak peek at asome of their research acievements!
After that, we teamed up with local university students and shared our research projects with each other, asking questions along the way. The students at Hasanuddin University were super enthusiastic and listend intently to our presentations, which made it a really enjoyable experience for us too.

On the fourth day, we had a discussion with local university students about "social issues in Japan and Indonesia." Using a whiteboard, we listed problems from each country and proposed solutions from our respective perspectives. It was a long session lasting over three hours, which was challenging at times, but it was an excellent experience to gain a deeper understanding of each other's countries.
On the fifth day, we presented the results of our discussions to the professors of Hasanuddin University. We were able to receive expert advice on solutions to our problems, and it was a very fruitful experience for us.

The Indonesian students were super motivated and full of energy. So many were eager to dive right into a PhD program! It was not only valuable to practice English and experience different cultures but also incredibly inspiring academically, especially regarding attitudes toward pursuing a PhD.