Tokyo Tech News

Information session held for the TiROP joint education program

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Published: February 25, 2015

Tokyo Tech held an information session for the TiROP program before accepting applications.

What is TiROP?

TiROP (Tokyo Institute of Technology International Research Opportunities Program) is a part of MEXT's Re-Inventing Japan Project. Tokyo Tech works with renowned science and engineering universities in Asia, Europe, and the US to facilitate exchange opportunities for students looking to study abroad. This program aims to establish networks through the exchange of students, promote the continuing internationalization of universities, and develop human resources capable of exercising their abilities on the global stage.

The TiROP program focuses on coordinated guidance provided by the student's home and exchange universities. This is a significant feature of the program. The program sets the goal of developing human resources through interactions between students and faculty members at world-class universities, where they are expected to develop highly specialized knowledge and skill in science and technology for the global stage as they deepen their understanding of different cultures.

TiROP joint education program information session

An information session was held on January 21 and 22, 2015. During the first half of the session, representatives from the International Student Exchange Division, which administers TiROP at Tokyo Tech, provided an overview of the program and explained the application procedures. The last half of the session featured students who studied abroad through the TiROP program.

Information session

Information session

Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tokyo Tech Department of Metallurgy and Ceramics Science, who studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Eri Takematsu, Tokyo Tech Department of Electronic Chemistry, who studied at University of Washington, talked about their experience in the TiROP program on January 21. Takahashi talked about his difficulty in finding a place to live, the biggest challenge during his stay. He said, "I left Japan without having a place to live in Wisconsin, and could not find a room when I arrived there. With help from some friends in the same laboratory and local residents that I got to know, though, I stayed at a resident house in the area until space at a dormitory opened up."

Takematsu talked about her desire to study abroad to acquire a degree from an overseas university, and how the TiROP program gave her the opportunity to build a network and obtain information necessary for her plan. She also talked about having the chance to become acquainted with research and attend presentations.

Students who participated in the information session asked about specific matters such as what it took to be accepted by an overseas university and the cost of living during the stay. Takahashi and Takematsu answered these questions based on their experience, which was realistic and easy to understand.

On January 22, Christoph Alt (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) and Christophe Etienne (Ponts et Chaussées Paris Tech), who are studying at Tokyo Tech through the TiROP program, were invited to talk about universities and laboratories in Europe. Despite the rainy weather, many students attended. After the information session, students asked for advice and exchanged information.

Christoph Alt from RWTH Aachen University

Christoph Alt from RWTH Aachen University

Christophe Etienne from Ponts et Chaussées Paris Tech

Christophe Etienne from Ponts et Chaussées Paris Tech

Contact

Re-Inventing Japan Project
TiROP office
E-mail tirop@jim.titech.ac.jp
Tel +81-3-5734-2984

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