A total of thirteen students from Télécom Paris Tech, France, made a visit to the Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. Their visit to Japan and Gifu Prefecture this time was realized with the assistance of the Japan-France Association of Gifu in hopes of promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and France. As participants of a student exchange program, Télécom Paris Tech students made the second visit to the Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University after their first in July 2013.
One graduate student and three undergraduate students of the Faculty of Engineering (Mr. Shinosuke Kurotake, Mr. Kentaro Iwase, Mr. Takahiro Morikawa and Ms. Ayaka Kusakabe) volunteered to arrange the meeting with the Télécom Paris Tech students while they were touring around the faculty buildings.

Firstly, Ms. Ayaka Kusakabe chaired the reception to welcome the Télécom Paris Tech students in English. Next, President of the Japan-France Association of Gifu delivered brief, introductory remarks, followed by a welcome speech of Dr. Keitestu Rokugo, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Rokugo also gave an overview of the Faculty of Engineering including international exchange activities and research programs, etc.
Télécom Paris Tech students then visited the laboratory of Professor Haruhisa Kawasaki and Associate Professor Tetsuya Mouri whose field of research is intelligent mechanical engineering. Télécom Paris Tech students were given a rare opportunity to observe the state-of-the-art robot technologies firsthand thanks to the detailed explanations of research work and demonstrations conducted by Associate Professor Mouri and the students at the laboratory. After the demonstrations, Télécom Paris Tech students asked many questions about robot technologies and experiment equipment used at the laboratory.
After visiting the laboratory, an exchange meeting started with Mr. Kentaro Iwase as a moderator. He led the whole meeting in English. First, the leader of Télécom Paris Tech students expressed his appreciation for a warm welcome by Gifu University. After that, about 40 participants were divided into six groups and exchanged opinions about impressions of France and Japan, hobbies, etc. in English. Besides these discussions, Gifu university students spent some time teaching how to fold origami papers to Télécom Paris Tech students.

Professor Minoru Sasaki, Head of the Intelligent Mechanical Engineering Course wrapped up the meeting by expressing his gratitude to everyone concerned for a successful conclusion of Télécom Paris Tech students' visit to Gifu University.

In a very friendly atmosphere, everything went smoothly throughout the whole program. Télécom Paris Tech students and Gifu University students shared a wonderful time together and were able to gain a better understanding of each country.