Overseas Program in Australia
- Aug. 15 to 21, 2016
- Participants: 18 students of 2nd grade students and 3 teachers
- Day 1 – Arrived Hobart, Tasmania
- Day 2 – Workshop and lab tour at the University of Tasmania
Prof. Peter Wilson gave a lecture titled “Organism under a low-temperature environment in Antarctica”. The lecture was well connected to physics and chemistry. Students asked many questions and overall they were excited to experience high-level lecture which was different from their high school classes.
Students visited three labs (Volcano geology, Rock geology, and Environmental studies). Professors from each lab explained the latest research topics and findings. Students learned that how research has been conducted by taking advantage of Tasmania’s physical environment.
Each research group conducted interviews at the campus to collect data for group project. For example, students asked questions on the utilization of water resource and how to activate local tourism. At the beginning, students had a difficulty to discuss in English. But they soon got used to communicating in English and positively interacted with UTAS students.
- Day 3 – Field study at Mt. Field National Park and research activity in
Hobart city
All students took a bus to the national park and did a nature observation with a guide. Each student set an objective and learned the environmental characteristics of Tasmania. Policies and actual activities for nature conservation were the most popular subjects for students.
In the returning bus to hotel, all students gave a short presentation and shared thoughts with other students.
- Day 4 - Presentation and Closing ceremony at the University of Tasmania
Students had a presentation in front of Prof. Wilson. He gave comments to each student to improve his/her presentations.
After all program in Tasmania ended, they moved to Sydney in the afternoon.
- Day 5 - Moved to Sydney and field work in the city
On the last day of this overseas program, students visited the Australia Branch of Sompo Japan Nipponkoa and learned about the business in overseas. The resident officer of Australia Branch gave a talk on the important thing to work in a foreign country and its satisfaction and difficulty. Students were able to gain clearer images of themselves working overseas.
Each group conducted an interview in the city. They also visited groceries and did a marketing research. For example, they checked the differences and similarities between Japan and Australia and looked for the local products not found in Japan.