Students from the Tsinghua University Graduate School at Shenzhen join Think Aloud! LUNCH at the HUB-ICS

On November 19, 2014, a delegation of faculty, administrators and students from the Graduate School of Tsinghua University at Shenzhen visited Tokyo Tech. Although the Beijing campus of Tsinghua University is well known, people are less aware of the Shenzhen campus. Located just 30 km north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a vibrant city that plays a central role in China's economic and technological innovation. Home to numerous high-tech companies, the city provides an outstanding environment for the Graduate School's activities in science and technology.

What is the Think Aloud! LUNCH?

Among the delegation were nine graduate students representing various majors, including logistics engineering and visual design. The students attended the Think Aloud! LUNCH, a weekly discussion held at the HUB-International Communications Space (HUB-ICS) and hosted by Associate Professor Tom Hope of the International Student Center. After watching a short video, Think Aloud! LUNCH participants are divided into groups for discussions in English on topics prepared in advance. Topics are usually current issues of interest. Recent topics have included animal experiments, the Nobel Prize, and Ebola fever. The discussions are designed to cultivate students' ability to think deeply through the communication of ideas with others. As its name implies, this event takes place at lunchtime, during which participants eat while enjoying their discussions

November 19 Think Aloud! LUNCH

The theme of the day was "Celebrity, Photos and You." Each group had active discussions on the pros and cons of celebrity, the potential consequences of using photos of others without permission, and posting photos of your children and other family members

After the event, Tokyo Tech staff interviewed students from the delegation about their impressions of Tokyo Tech and the Think Aloud! LUNCH. They expressed great interest in Tokyo Tech's new library, the advanced research being conducted, and the international environment offered at Tokyo Tech's Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) and HUB-ICS. Many mentioned that the Think Aloud! LUNCH provided a wonderful opportunity for exchange among people from different backgrounds. One student even said he plans to suggest having a similar event at Shenzhen. Another said how pleased she was to be able to reunite with her friend, a Tokyo Tech student who studied at Tsinghua University under the Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University Joint Graduate Program.

To the students of the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, thank you for joining Think Aloud! LUNCH.