TAIST-Tokyo Tech Student Exchange Program in Japan 2023

From September 4 to December 4, 2023, Tokyo Tech welcomed 11 students from Thailand Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (TAIST)-Tokyo Tech, a graduate education program jointly organized by the Institute in collaboration with Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and leading Thai universities.

Tokyo Tech faculty members are heavily involved in the program, serving as lecturers and, in cooperation with faculty members of the Thai partner universities and researchers from NSTDA, as academic co-supervisors of TAIST students.

To encourage greater interaction between students from TAIST and Tokyo Tech, the Institute launched the TAIST-Tokyo Tech Student Exchange Program in 2015 and has continued the program since then. In addition to an outbound program for Tokyo Tech students to conduct research internships and take courses in Thailand, the inbound program provides opportunities for TAIST students to take advantage of the Institute's excellent research environment by conducting master's thesis research in Tokyo Tech laboratories.

The 2023 inbound program enabled TAIST students to spend three months at Tokyo Tech, where they conducted research and joined seminars and events at their host laboratories. They also enjoyed campus tours, including Tokyo Tech faculty labs, and a visit to a Japanese company. Some of the participants also enrolled in courses at Tokyo Tech.

During visits to Tokyo Tech faculty members' labs, program participants eagerly asked questions as they received briefings on each lab's research activities. Through the lab visits, program participants gained exposure to Tokyo Tech research in various fields and deepened their understanding of the research underway at particular laboratories involved with the TAIST program.

Off campus, the TAIST students visited the RICOH Eco Business Development Center. They were inspired by stepping into the office automation equipment reuse and recycling site and witnessing actual operations and an automated guided robot. During the visit, they asked many questions and were able to deepen their knowledge.

At the end of the program, participants gave final presentations on their research to an audience that included their academic supervisors, fellow lab members, and faculty members, as well as guests from companies supporting TAIST. After their presentations, the students responded to questions in English.

Program participants made the most of their short stay and have now returned to Thailand to complete their master's theses. After graduation, some will advance to doctoral programs at universities in Thailand or abroad, including Tokyo Tech, while others will pursue careers with Thai and foreign companies. Participants are expected to utilize the knowledge and experience they have gained at Tokyo Tech to work actively around the world.