GLC Activity Reports
The Global Learning Center plans and conducts programs and activities related to studying abroad, language learning, international exchange, and international students. It also holds events such as seminars, lectures, and official ceremonies.
- 2026.08.17 Spring 2026 IPLA Final Presentation 2026
- 2026.07.31 TUJP Five TUJP programs were conducted in Summer 2026
- 2026.07.31 TUJP Summer 2 Students Undertake Community-Engaged ICL Fieldwork in Oga, Akita
- 2026.03.23 JIGE 2026 Doctoral Colloquium Series with Penn State University
- 2026.02.12 Three TUJP programs were conducted in Winter 2025-2026
- 2026.02.05 Fall 2025 IPLA Final Presentation
- 2026.01.27 GLC × Sendai Daisan High School (Sanko) English Presentation Support Project 2025
- 2026.01.22 Coffee Event with Prof. Hideo Ohno – An Inspiring Dialogue on Leadership, Research, and the Future of Tohoku University
August 17, 2026
Spring 2026 IPLA Final Presentation
On August 4th, the IPLA (International Program in Liberal Arts) final presentation was held for 74 students who are completing the exchange program for the Spring 2026 semester.
Contact
Incoming Student Exchange Section
studyab*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
Tel: 022-795-4816
July 31, 2026
TUJP Summer 2 Students Undertake Community-Engaged ICL Fieldwork in Oga, Akita
In July 2026, Tohoku University’s Global Learning Center conducted a community-engaged fieldwork program in Oga City, Akita Prefecture. The initiative brought together approximately 70 international students participating in the Tohoku University Japanese Program (TUJP) Summer 2, representing 20 countries and regions, including Singapore, Taiwan, the United States, Germany, and China.
The Global Learning Center actively promotes community-engaged Intercultural Collaborative Learning (ICL), an educational model in which students examine complex issues facing contemporary Japanese society from multiple perspectives and work with diverse stakeholders to co-create practical solutions. As part of this effort, the fieldwork took place in Oga, a city confronting some of Japan’s most pressing demographic and social challenges, including rapid population aging and decline. The program brought together academia, municipal government, and local business through partnerships with Oga City’s Division of Tourism and Culture and Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a pioneering craft sake brewery advancing community revitalization through sake production.
Contact
Junna Minato
Research Associate & Academic Coordinator
Global Learning Center, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education
junna.minato.d7[at]tohoku.ac.jp (Replace [at] with @.)
July 31, 2026
Five TUJP programs were conducted in Summer 2026
The Global Learning Center (GLC) hosted five in-person Tohoku University Japanese Programs (TUJPs)—short-term student exchange programs—between May and July 2026.
● TUJP Baylor (May 21 – May 31, 2026): Welcomed 7 participants from Baylor University, our partner institution in the United States.
● TUJP Summer 1 (June 10 – June 25, 2026): Welcomed 34 participants from partner universities located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, the United States, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Russia.
● TUJP UNCC (June 10 – June 25, 2026): Welcomed 10 participants from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, our partner institution in the United States.
● TUJP Sydney (June 22 – July 9, 2026): Welcomed 59 participants from the University of Sydney, our partner institution in Australia.
● TUJP Summer 2 (July 1 – July 28, 2026): Welcomed 73 participants from partner institutions and other organizations located in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, Indonesia, Germany, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, Finland, Sweden, and Russia.
Contact
Global Learning Center
TUJP Office
tujp*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
Tel: +81(0)22-795-7782
July 31, 2026
TUJP Summer 2 Students Undertake Community-Engaged ICL Fieldwork in Oga, Akita
In July 2026, Tohoku University’s Global Learning Center conducted a community-engaged fieldwork program in Oga City, Akita Prefecture. The initiative brought together approximately 70 international students participating in the Tohoku University Japanese Program (TUJP) Summer 2, representing 20 countries and regions, including Singapore, Taiwan, the United States, Germany, and China.
The Global Learning Center actively promotes community-engaged Intercultural Collaborative Learning (ICL), an educational model in which students examine complex issues facing contemporary Japanese society from multiple perspectives and work with diverse stakeholders to co-create practical solutions. As part of this effort, the fieldwork took place in Oga, a city confronting some of Japan’s most pressing demographic and social challenges, including rapid population aging and decline. The program brought together academia, municipal government, and local business through partnerships with Oga City’s Division of Tourism and Culture and Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., a pioneering craft sake brewery advancing community revitalization through sake production.
Contact
Junna Minato
Research Associate & Academic Coordinator
Global Learning Center, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education
junna.minato.d7[at]tohoku.ac.jp (Replace [at] with @.)
March 23, 2026
JIGE 2026 Doctoral Colloquium Series with Penn State University
On Friday, March 13, “The JIGE* 2026 Doctoral Colloquium Series with Penn State University**: Special Seminar” was held in person and online at Tohoku University, with approximately 60 students and faculty members participating, including those from JIGE project partner universities.
This year’s colloquium series centered on the main theme of “Disaster Science.” Prior to the “Special Seminar,” a three-day “Tohoku University-Penn State Joint Field Tour” was conducted. During the tour, 15 researchers and graduate students from both universities visited areas affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
Contact
Tohoku University Inter-University Exchange Project Office
'Blended Mobility Project (BMX) for Society 5.0 HR (Human Resources)'
tohoku-tenkai-3*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
February 21, 2026
Three TUJP programs were conducted in Winter 2025-2026
The Global Learning Center (GLC) hosted three Tohoku University Japanese Programs (TUJPs)—short-term student exchange programs between December 2025 and February 2026.
● TUJP Sydney (December 2–19, 2025): 57 students from the University of Sydney, one of our partner universities in Australia, participated in the program.
● TUJP Winter 1 (December 5–18, 2025): 120 students joined from partner universities located in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, South Korea, Germany, Poland, Australia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
● TUJP Winter 2 (January 21–February 3, 2026): 61 students participated from partner universities located in South Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, and Australia.
Contact
Global Learning Center
TUJP Office
tujp*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
Tel: +81(0)22-795-7782
February 5, 2026
Fall 2025 IPLA Final Presentation
On February 3rd, the IPLA (International Program in Liberal Arts) final presentation was held for 35 students who are completing the exchange program for the Fall 2025 semester.
Each student gave a wonderful presentation about what they had learnt at Tohoku University by participating in the IPLA and their future plans.
Contact
Incoming Student Exchange Section
TUJP Office
studyab*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
Tel: 022-795-4816
January 27, 2026
GLC × Sendai Daisan High School (Sanko) English Presentation Support Project 2025
From June 2025 to January 2026, the Global Learning Center collaborated with Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Daisan High School (Sanko) in an English presentation support project for high school science students.
79 students from Sanko's Science and Mathematics course, organized into 19 research groups, participated in this eight-month program. Approximately 20 GLC supporters, international students in the FGL STEM degree programs, provided mentorship throughout the project, with a few GLC instructors.
Contact
Yumiko Watanabe
Professor & Coordinator of the FGL Program
Global Learning Center
yumiko.watanabe.a5*tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
January 22, 2026
Coffee Event with Prof. Hideo Ohno – An Inspiring Dialogue on Leadership, Research, and the Future of Tohoku University
On 14 January 2025, the Tohoku University STEM Network (TUSTEM)
hosted a special Coffee Event featuring Prof. Hideo Ohno, the former President of Tohoku
University and a world-renowned physicist in the field of spintronics. The event provided
students with a valuable opportunity to learn directly from Prof. Ohno’s extensive
experience as a researcher, educator, and university leader.
In his talk, Prof. Ohno reflected on his tenure as President of Tohoku University and shared
insights into the major milestones achieved during that period. A central highlight of his
presentation was Tohoku University’s selection as the first university under "University for
International Research Excellence", a significant national recognition that reflects the
university’s strength in research, innovation, and global competitiveness. He also discussed
the strategic direction of Tohoku University, emphasizing its commitment to advancing
cutting-edge research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and nurturing the next
generation of researchers and leaders.
Contact
Yumiko Watanabe
Professor & Coordinator of the FGL Program
Global Learning Center
yumiko.watanabe.a5*tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")
On 14 January 2025, the Tohoku University STEM Network (TUSTEM)
hosted a special Coffee Event featuring Prof. Hideo Ohno, the former President of Tohoku
University and a world-renowned physicist in the field of spintronics. The event provided
students with a valuable opportunity to learn directly from Prof. Ohno’s extensive
experience as a researcher, educator, and university leader.
In his talk, Prof. Ohno reflected on his tenure as President of Tohoku University and shared
insights into the major milestones achieved during that period. A central highlight of his
presentation was Tohoku University’s selection as the first university under "University for
International Research Excellence", a significant national recognition that reflects the
university’s strength in research, innovation, and global competitiveness. He also discussed
the strategic direction of Tohoku University, emphasizing its commitment to advancing
cutting-edge research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and nurturing the next
generation of researchers and leaders.
Contact
Yumiko Watanabe
Professor & Coordinator of the FGL Program
Global Learning Center
yumiko.watanabe.a5*tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the "*" with "@")