Kyoto University European Center Meet & Greet ( Online | September 15, 2020)

In order not to lose but intensify our connections to Europe –  even in this challenging situation –  we organized the virtual Kyoto University European Center Meet & Greet on September 15th. Around 60 students and university staffs from 13 European countries joined us and showed their interest in Kyoto University and our activities.

The Kyoto University European Center Meet & Greet started with a welcome address by the Center’s Director and Vice-President for International Strategy Kyoto University Prof. Kono Yasuyuki. After his greetings, we introduced Kyoto University with its features and achievements as an outstanding place to study and research.

Then followed a panel interview session with five former Kyoto University European exchange students from Heidelberg University, University of Gottingen and Free University of Berlin. They were asked about why they choose Kyoto University, their experiences in classes and extracurricular activities as well as challenges they encountered in Japan and how they overcame them. A Kyoto University student, who studied at Heidelberg University, added a Japanese perspective on studying at Kyoto University and gave some interesting inside advice for future students and researchers on living in Kyoto. The audience was highly positive about this valuable opportunity to listen to real feedback from former exchange students and it seems that they could feel the atmosphere of studying abroad while getting a deeper insight into the daily life of students on Kyoto University Campus.

After the end of main event, we also held an arbitrary break session and many participants enjoyed talking to each other and asking further questions to the former exchange students.

Kyoto University European Center will continue to make efforts to show the presence of Kyoto University in Europe and to promote the interests in studying at Kyoto University even if actual in-person contacts are impossible.

Welcome address by Prof. Kono	Screenshot from Kyoto University European Center Meet & Greet