On June 10, the Gifu University Organization for Promotion of Glocalization (GU-GLOCAL) hosted a networking event titled “Welcome & Connect” at the Presentation Area of the Tokai Open Innovation Complex, Gifu Site, on campus.
In FY2025, Gifu University was selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for the Inter-University Exchange Project. Building on this achievement and drawing on its strong track record of educational collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG, India), the university has established two distinctive support networks: the “Gifu–India Student Community (GI-SC)” and the “Gifu–India Scientist & Engineer Community (GI-SEC).” These networks aim to support Indian students and researchers in their daily lives in Japan and to promote their long-term settlement in the Gifu region and its surrounding areas. The “Welcome & Connect” event marked the first gathering designed to foster interaction among members of these networks.
On the day of the event, first, there was a self-introduction session involving all participants, including students and faculty members. A total of 36 participants attended, 14 of whom were Indian students and researchers. They engaged in lively and friendly exchanges across nationalities, academic disciplines, and professional roles. This was followed by a speech session where two Gifu University alumni were invited as guest speakers: Mr. Hritaban Acharya of Menicon Co., Ltd., and Assistant Professor Raj Kishan Agrahari of the Institute for Advanced Study at Gifu University. They shared their experiences as former Gifu University students and spoke about their career paths leading to their current positions in a Japanese company and a research institution, respectively.
Participants later commented, “Listening to their firsthand experiences of working in Japan as foreign professionals motivated me to seek employment in Japan in the future,” and “Their talks broadened my perspective on building fulfilling careers and fostering enduring ties between India and Japan.” Many participants expressed their eagerness to attend future “Welcome & Connect” events. It is hoped that this initiative will serve as an important milestone in building a sustainable community to support Indian students and researchers, and its continued growth and development are highly anticipated.
Gifu University will continue to provide students and faculty members with opportunities for international exchange, career development, and network building, thereby strengthening connections between the local community and the global community.
Group Photo
