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A ceremony was held on Katahira campus on August 8 to recognise 48 students for their contributions to Tohoku University's internationalisation efforts.

In his congratulatory message to the recipients, University President Teiji Tominaga highlighted the importance of having a global mindset as Tohoku University continues its path as Japan's first University for International 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Excellence.

"An overseas experience will not only deepen your academic expertise but also cultivate your ability to understand diverse cultures and adapt to unfamiliar environments," he said. "Fostering students who can excel on the global stage is one of our key missions, and I hope that everyone here today can play a leading role in the future."

Thirty students were awarded the Global Hagi Scholarship to study abroad at one of the university's partner institutions. Supported by the Tohoku University Fund, this scholarship is granted to students who have outstanding academic records.

Tsubasa Konno, a doctoral student in information sciences, received the award on behalf of the Global Hagi Scholarship winners, and Reika Kazama, a first-year master's student at the Graduate School of Engineering, gave the speech.

She mentioned how previous short-term study abroad programmes to France and Spain had opened her eyes to different cultures and values and how "these experiences sparked my desire to contribute on a global stage."

She spoke of wanting to gain a better understanding of environmental technologies during her upcoming exchange programme to Sweden. "My research focuses on hydrogen storage alloys, which play an important role in reducing environmental impact," she said. "I'm eager to explore Sweden's sustainability approaches and gain insights that will enhance my studies."

She added that she also hopes to improve her communication skills in English and build a strong international network of friends and colleagues.

Eighteen students also received their Global Leader certification during the ceremony, with Kai Yamazaki, a third-year law student, accepting the award for the group.

The Global Leader (TGL) programme is a key component of the university's efforts to promote an international curriculum and foster co-learning among students from different cultures. Domestic Japanese students earn the Global Leader certification by accumulating points from classes that encourage a broad mindset, awareness of global issues and activities such as participating in study abroad programmes and passing foreign language proficiency tests.

In her speech on behalf of the recipients, Asuka Matsushita, a fourth-year medical student, spoke of how the TGL programme changed her approach to her future career. "Given Japan's ageing population, I initially thought it would be better to work overseas. But looking back, I realise I had a narrow perspective and didn't fully understand Japan," she said.

"In the TGL programme, I met people interested in overseas opportunities who weren't thinking 'I want to leave Japan,' but rather 'I want to improve both Japan and other societies.' Their clear vision greatly broadened my horizons."

She added that she now aspires to become a global talent who can contribute to the future of Japan's medical field. "TGL taught me the importance of 'the power to act' and 'multifaceted perspectives.' I want to support healthcare not only clinically, but through systems, technology and policy, learning from overseas to build a sustainable society where the next generation can feel secure."

She ended her speech urging her fellow Global Leaders to also apply their experiences to "make a global impact."

The Global Leader certificates are awarded twice a year. Some 300 students have received certification since the TGL programme began in 2013.