Roberta Buffett Institute Welcomes Student Delegation from The University of Tokyo

This summer, the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University was pleased to host a delegation of students from The University of Tokyo as part of the university’s Taiken (First-hand Experience) Program. The program aims to foster  “UTokyo students without borders” by enabling them to experience diverse facets of international community. The group of students was led by Masako Osako, who earned her PhD in sociology from Northwestern in 1973. She currently serves on the board of Friends of UTokyo, a not-for-profit organization that supports the worldwide community of UTokyo.

While visiting Northwestern, the students learned about opportunities to participate in the Undergraduate Exchange Program offered by Northwestern’s Global Learning Office and UTokyo’s International Education Promotion Group. They also met with Northwestern faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and alumni to learn about the experience of studying, living, and working in the United States, particularly in Evanston.

Roberta Buffett Visiting Scholar Mika Tamai shared her personal experience coming to Northwestern from Japan as a research scholar. “We cannot truly express something in our own words unless we experience it," she said. "So, please cherish every insight you gain from your visit here, no matter how small. This may lead to major discoveries.”

She also presented on the importance of international research and global collaboration. “International research is important because it changes and broadens our perspectives, expanding the scope of discussion and enabling us to approach various issues in different ways,” she said.