Graduate Students from Around the World Gather at Waseda University for the 2026 Global Research Immersion Programme

From Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18, 2026, the Faculty of Sport Sciences hosted the five-day Global Research Immersion Programme for Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Waseda University in Japan.

Designed for graduate students from around the world, this intensive international programme aimed to provide participants with exposure to cutting-edge research in sport, exercise and health sciences. Nine master’s and doctoral students from Korea, Thailand, China and Taiwan took part in a diverse range of activities, including lectures delivered by faculty members from Waseda University and overseas universities, laboratory sessions, academic exchanges, and visits to companies and other facilities. Throughout the programme, participants learned together and deepened their interactions across different academic disciplines and cultural backgrounds.

Waseda University is a Leadership Council member of the Global Sport University Network (GSUN), an international network comprising some of the world’s leading universities and faculties in the field of sport. For this programme, four lecturers were invited from fellow GSUN member universities: Loughborough University, Nanyang Technological University, The University of Queensland and Seoul National University. Together with Waseda University faculty members, they delivered lectures and provided research guidance. Through exposure to cutting-edge scientific knowledge and research methods, as well as academic exchange across national borders, the participants broadened their perspectives on their respective fields of research.

The programme also benefited from the generous support of its corporate sponsors.

Lotte Co., Ltd. provided a lecture on the relationship between its corporate activities and the fields of sport and health, as well as an opportunity to visit one of its factories. The visit enabled the participants to deepen their understanding of manufacturing, research and development at one of Japan’s leading food manufacturers.

With the cooperation of Herbalife Japan Corporation, the participants also visited the company and learned about the initiatives of a globally active health and nutrition company. The visit helped them gain a deeper understanding of the connections between sport sciences and industry.

In addition, the participants visited the Tokyo Athletic Club (TAC), a facility associated with the fields of sport and exercise. Through a tour of the facility and related activities, they learned about practical environments that support sport and physical activity.

The programme also provided opportunities for the participants to interact with Waseda students and faculty members and to experience Japanese culture, making the five days rewarding well beyond the lectures and laboratory sessions. In addition to advancing their specialist knowledge in sport sciences, the participants established new connections with students, researchers and corporate representatives from Japan and overseas.

The Faculty of Sport Sciences will continue to make use of international networks such as GSUN to promote exchanges with students and researchers from around the world and further advance its international education and research activities.