Closing ceremony and farewell party for 2014 summer school were held
International Student Center hosted summer school closing ceremony and farewell party at Second Cafeteria and Grill, 5:30 pm, Wednesday, July 23. About 80 people including 21 summer school students, members from GujoHachiman International Friendship Association, host families, Gifu University President Hisataka Moriwaki, Dr. Fumiaki Suzuki, Executive Director and Director of Office for Academic Globalization, Executive Director Satoshi Ema, Executive Director Masaki Yokoyama, Vice-President Masako Hayashi, staff members of Office for Academic Globalization, summer school tutors, faculty and staff members of International Student Center attended the event.
21 students including 17 eight-week course students from Lund University (Sweden) and 4 four-week course students from Mokpo National University (South Korea) completed the course for 2014.
Following a speech from Dr. Toyohide Takeuchi, Director of International Student Center, and introduction of host families, President Moriwaki made a congratulatory speech. Mr. Yukihiko Sumi from GujoHachiman International Friendship Association proposed a toast which signaled an official opening of the party. Participants enjoyed having conversation, taking pictures with host families, and talking about their memories of summer school.
A while later, Dr. Takeuchi handed a course completion certificate to each student, and summer school students received a lot of applause from those who were present. Participants also gave generous applause to Ms. Paula Hjalmarsson from Lund University and Mr. Lee Hyun Bo from Mokpo National University who delivered a speech afterwards.
Ms. Manami Kiuchi, 4th year student of Faculty of Education, and Mr. Yohei Honda, 4th year student of Faculty of Engineering, who helped summer school students every year as a tutor also received a letter of appreciation and a gift. At the end of the event, tutors wearing yukata sang a song for summer school students. It was seen that a tutor and a summer school student who were filled with emotion hugged each other. Participants wrapped up the closing ceremony and farewell party with a photo session.
We successfully ended 2014 summer school course. Summer school students stay a little longer in Japan. Some of them enjoy fireworks display on the Nagara River, and others have a trip to Osaka, Kyoto, etc.
A number of students who finished this course came back to Japan to study, so we are looking forward to seeing them in Japan again.