Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.31
Dental training and student exchange program for students in 3 Southeast Asian countries
Report from Tokyo Medical and Dental University
The Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Department of Dentistry, enrolled 11 students from Chulalongkorn University, Srinakharinwirot University (both from Thailand), Vietnam Medical and Pharmaceutical University (Socialist Republic of Vietnam), and University of Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia), and provided a dental training and student exchange program, for 9 days from November 13, 2017 (Monday) to November 21, 2017 (Tuesday), through the Sakura Science Exchange Program.
In this program, the excellent dental students from abroad were enrolled, for the purpose of learning state-of-the-art medical and dental care through research day (publication of research findings by oral presentation and poster) and research practical training, constructing a dental care network in Southeast Asia centered at the university, and constructing a network of students studying dentistry through multinational academic and cultural exchanges including the students of the university.
Opening ceremony on the first day of the program, and orientation to the training schedule of the university was conducted.
On the next day, ice breaking, such as self-introduction by university students and others, was done to make each other familiar. They were then divided into small groups, a workshop was conducted on the image of an ideal dentist, and results were announced to all the groups.
On the 3rd day, they visited Tsukuba city in Ibaraki prefecture, which is an academic and research city. They experienced a traditional Japanese meal and visited a company that manufactures dental equipment.
On the 4th day, they were again divided into smaller groups, and conducted research practice and clinical tours in each area of specialization of the university.
In addition, a research day was held in which the dental students of 5 universities from 4 countries, including Japan, made oral and poster presentations of the research done in their countries in English, and participants were provided with the opportunity to get exposed to the research of dental students of the same age, and to make new discoveries and learn from the research of the students from other countries.
In addition to these, a welcome lunch was planned by students who have previously been dispatched to these three countries, and exchanges by the participating students like the cultural show that showcased the traditional songs and dances of their countries was also performed.
On the last day, the students who participated in this program and the undergraduate students and faculty members of the university met together and held a closing ceremony.
In this program, an active academic, cultural and personal exchange was created between those who are studying dentistry for the future, by enrolling the students with multicultural backgrounds at the same time and by conducting training and exchanges. It seemed that the participating students and the Japanese students who greeted them gained a valuable experience.