News

On Wednesday, September 21, we had the opportunity to welcome five students from Ukraine to our campus as they begin their life as a member of the Waseda community. The students attended a welcome party which was organized for them, and had a fun time of getting to know fellow Waseda student volunteers who were eager to make new friends and help the Ukrainian students feel at home.

Professor Gemma Masahiko, Vice President for International Affairs, kicked off the session with a welcome speech and acknowledged the many people involved in bringing the students into Japan for this one-year program. “I hope that the students from Ukraine will enjoy Waseda’s global campus environment,” said Professor Gemma.

The time was passed over to the students who introduced themselves to one another. One student volunteer warmly greeted, “I hope that this one-year program will be a great opportunity for each of us to deeply interact with each other and I strongly believe we can overcome our language barrier by meeting each other halfway.” The new students excitedly returned the greetings, “I want to study Japanese culture more…and when I graduate from my university, to work with Japanese people.” Faculty and staff also offered their words of empathy and support to the new students.

After all the introductions were done, the students enjoyed a casual time of chit-chatting and cultural exchange. Local food, weather, and hobbies were some topics that came up. “Japanese food feels tasty and healthy at the same time!” Another chimed in, “We are grateful for this opportunity and we are glad that we can enjoy the warmer weather in Japan.”

Waseda student volunteers expressed their thoughts as well. “We really want them to enjoy their time in Japan and come to like our country,” a graduate student commented. Another student who went abroad for exchange in the past added, “I want to know more about the Ukrainian culture and I want to help them learn more about Japanese culture. They must be very anxious living in a foreign country because I lived in a foreign country too and I understand that feeling. I want to help them if they have any questions or concerns.”

The welcome party concluded with lots of smiles and laughter, talk of plans for future meet-ups and the start of new friendships!

The students were accepted through a program called the Japan-Ukraine University Pathways, which supports students affected by the Ukraine crisis by admitting them into selected universities in Japan. All the students have experience studying the Japanese language at their universities back in their home country and will be focusing on language study for the next one year at the Center for Japanese Language starting this fall semester.

Waseda will continue to implement programs going forward in order to provide support for those who have been affected by the crisis in Ukraine and are facing challenges maintaining their studies or research. The University has also set up a donation fund to help provide various types of support for students affected by natural and other disasters, including support for evacuee students from Ukraine.

For Inquiries:
Email: [email protected] (International Office, International Affairs Division)