the Global Environment and Energy Course (GU-GLEE)

In April 2015, a new graduate course conducted in English, called the Global Environment and Energy Course (GU-GLEE), was established under the Environmental and Renewable Energy Systems Division of the Graduate School of Engineering. All lectures offered in this program are related to environmental and energy issues that are essential in contributing to the development of a sustainable global society. The aim of the course is to nurture students who can be future global leaders equipped with high levels of expertise in their specialization.

A roundtable, participated by both Japanese and international students, was conducted.

Students expressed a new sense of awareness and understanding of the differences in value systems among their respective countries and felt a real sense of personal growth.

Their personal goals are to become proficient in English so that they can communicate with people wherever they go in the world, and to develop high levels of expertise in their fields of study.

Kimata　The reason I chose to major in GU-GLEE was when I was a second-year student I went to the Philippines and had difficulty communicating in English, and this experience made me realize the necessity to study English.
Kihira　I also chose this course to improve my English. During my job search as a fourth-year student, every company I talked to said that going forward I would need a certain level of English. Therefore, I made up my mind to develop my English communication skills. Another attractive point of this course was the opportunity to learn abroad in the global internship program.
Nadia　Personally, I was interested in Japan's high level of technological sophistication. In addition, I wanted to study the Japanese language and immerse myself in its culture.
Go　As a Physics major in Myanmar, I wanted to study in Japan, which ranks high globally in the field of Physics, as evidenced by Japanese researchers being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014. I was also impressed with the program's acceptance of international students.
Firda　Dealing with research in wastewater treatment in Indonesia, I was aware of Japan's very high level of water and sewer service technology. Through lectures in this course and in my life in Japan, I'm able to learn about water recycling.
Ohta　I'm a member of a research group studying ways to generate energy from construction waste materials. It's interesting for me because in this course I get to study the same problems as I do at my lab but from an environmental perspective, and at the same time improve my English.

Regarding cultural differences that led to broadening their perspectives:

Kimata　As I have been studying together with international students I am startled at the rate of their progress in learning Japanese. I feel that I need to learn from them.
Go　Really? My impression of Japanese people is that they are a little shy (laughs).
Nadia　In Malaysia, it is normal for people to do things for themselves and by themselves, but I find Japanese people to be very kind because if you need help they will help you. I also think it's good that Japanese students take the initiative in studying as well.
Firda　Here we have been able to build up a great relationship where we teach the Japanese students English and they teach us Japanese. It's very stimulating because in class I get to hear talks about IT in automobiles, participate in geoscience fieldwork, and other things to broaden my perspective beyond my own field of specialization.
Ohta　I think that I'm able to get a lot out of debating in English with people from other countries. The other day, in a class on the reuse of water resources, I found out that the international students were interested in the flush-toilet tanks that you can also use to wash your hands, which are normal in Japan. I'm often made aware like that of the differences in what catches the eye of the people from different countries.
Kihira　I'm doing research on new materials for solar power generation through numerical calculations and analyses, and in my class I was able to listen to a talk from the experts in the manufacture of solar power generating devices. I think it will be very useful to my research in the future.
Nadia　Over the long summer vacation I plan to go on an internship at a Kyoto-based pharmaceutical research company, and in the future I would like to be a researcher in Japan, a country that I love.
Go　In the future I'd also like to work as a researcher in Japan, so I want to learn as much as I can in this course.

An interview with the Head of Globalization Promotion Office

Our aim is to develop in our students intellectual and global skills as they interact with one another in cross-cultural educational setting that reflects our current world, and in that setting we would like to produce global leaders with broad perspectives.

Materials Chemistry Course, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering
Head of Globalization Promotion Office
Professor Mutsuhiro Shima

The GU-GLEE course was established as a new attempt to respond to what we see as an urgent need for an educational experience that matches the realities of a globalizing society. The Faculty of Engineering at Gifu University has produced many talented engineers who are active all over the world, and whose global activity and influence are now reflected in the growing number of international students participating in this course. This kind of education is realized through Gifu University's international ties and active global participation established and maintained over the years.