Dubai - MENA Herald: 12 Emirati high school students selected by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) visited Japan as part of a 10-day Japan study tour, courtesy of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE). As part of the mission the student delegation visited two renowned Japanese universities including Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and the University of Tokyo, as well as attend Japanese language classes and enjoy a social exchange with Japanese high school students in the northern city of Sendai. The mission commenced with the group’s arrival on August 12, 2016 and returned to the UAE on August 21st, 2016. On August 19th, the students met H.E. Khalid Omran Al Ameri, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Japan, at the farewell party organised by JICE in Tokyo.
The annual mission known as the “Study Tour in Japan Program” started in 2014 with financial support from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and is a collaboration project between ADEC and JICE. As part of the program the student group visited the Japanese National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Suginami Animation Museum, the shopping district of Harajuku in Tokyo, a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and Kiyomizu-Dera in the ancient imperial capital city of Kyoto, as well as visited Sendai-Higashi High School in Sendai in Japan’s north-eastern region, to meet with local high school students and provide them with a presentation on Emirati culture and school life in the UAE.
Says Mr. Tokuya Kanamori, Representative , JICE Abu Dhabi Office: “This is a great opportunity for the Emirati students not only to find out more about what these top Japan universities can offer Emirati students, but also for them to see and experience Japanese culture and society first hand. These universities offer courses such as Information System Engineering, Policy Science and International Relations in Ritsumeikan University and Environmental Sciences in the University of Tokyo. Other than the above, there are lot of courses in Japanese universities which are taught in English, and the JICE Abu Dhabi Office is here to assist students and families with selecting the right Japanese universities and courses for their interests and needs, as well as assisting with application processes and possible scholarship opportunities.”
Kanamori added: “We hope these young students will become a bridge of the future between our two countries.”
International students at Japan’s educational institutions have been increasing year on year, with the latest statistics showing a total of 208,379 students from around the world choosing to study in Japan in 2015; an increase of 13.2% compared to the number of international students in 2014. Among these, students heralding from the Middle East numbered 1,632 in 2015 with an increase of 12.6%.
