The 4th Winter School ended on December 21, 2018. A total of eight students from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG, India) and the National University of Malaysia (UKM, Malaysia) attended the school. 　

Students were engaged in wide-ranging activities prepared by Gifu University Head Office for Glocalization (GHOGL) for two weeks from December 4 to 21, 2018. They were: laboratory work, attendance of Japanese language classes, experiencing Japanese culture, and company tours. In their experiencing of Japanese culture, they visited Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture to observe local kabuki performance and also joined a Japanese drum beating practice session. In addition, students took part in Juni-Hitoe (layered kimono) Traditional Dress Workshop held at Gifu University on December 12. Everyone enjoyed moments to be exposed to the profundity of Japanese history and tradition. 　

On December 17 and 18, students visited Mitsubishi Chemical Yokohama R&D Center (Kanagawa Prefecture), Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. Central Laboratory (Chiba Prefecture) and Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. Chiba Plant (also in Chiba Prefecture). In each visit, they got a briefing on business operation, which was followed by inspection of research and factory buildings. Every student looked very impressed with the advanced, state-of-the-art technologies used by these three major companies in Japan. 　

On the final day of December 21, students introduced their studies and research activities in Japan in a poster session. First, they made a self-introduction and spoke about their impressions of the school programs in Japanese. This was a moment for them to be able to demonstrate their Japanese skills acquired through "Survival Japanese" classes.

In their presentations, they stated research themes, motivations, and views on their academic work in an orderly, systematic manner. Some of them even showed instruments of their own making, and explained how to use them right before the audience. People looked amazed with their ingenuity and passion for their studies. "I am pleased to know that everyone worked very hard to learn Japanese and tackle his/her own research agenda despite such a limited period of time," said President Moriwaki praising their painstaking efforts. 　

The poster session was followed by the 4th Winter School Closing Ceremony where students were awarded a certificate of completion from Dr. Fumiaki Suzuki, Executive Director for International Affairs and Public Relations.

Joint Degree (JD) programs (a single degree certificate is awarded by two or more partner universities to a student who has completed the program implemented by the partner universities) will start in April 2019 after years of talks with two partner universities, IITG and UKM. We sincerely hope that a strong bond with the two institutions through a number of students participating in winter schools, will lay a groundwork for a smooth, successful operation of JD programs from April 2019 and beyond.

GHOGL staff members stay focused on promoting a variety of international exchange to foster a stronger partnership with IITG and UKM, and accelerate international collaborative education initiatives with them in the years to come.