Is studying alongside international students useful for Japanese engineering students?
Yes, it can be useful. Studying with international students can expose Japanese engineering students to different ways of thinking and technical perspectives, while giving them opportunities to practise communication, including in English, and collaboration relevant to international work. The benefits depend on the course format, the student’s participation, and language ability.
Key points
- Students may encounter different approaches to understanding problems and different technical perspectives.
- Group work can help develop collaboration, explanation, and intercultural communication skills.
- The opportunity may be limited to classes or may extend to extracurricular activities, depending on the environment.
Things to check
- The course structure, language used, and opportunities to study with international students vary by university, faculty, and course, so specific details should be checked in official information.