In January, 52 students from a dozen countries across Europe, Asia and North America participated in the inaugural Tohoku University Engineering Short Programme (TESP Winter). Designed to blend engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship, the new 10-day exchange programme offered an intensive introduction to problem-solving with real-world impact.

Organised by the School of Engineering, TESP Winter is a companion to the university's highly popular Engineering Summer Programme. At its core is a problem-based learning (PBL) project that emphasises teamwork, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in an international setting.

Participants attended lectures introducing key concepts in engineering-driven innovation, including problem identification, opportunity assessment, value creation and prototype development. Associate Professor Stephane Yu Matsushita, the programme's lead lecturer, described the aim as bridging theory and practice. "What I try to do is help the students think about the real connection between technology and society," he said.

The programme also included lab visits, a tour of the Toyota Motor Corporation and hands-on group work. Two broad themes formed the foundation for the group projects: agriculture and food security, as well as hazards and disasters in Japan.

Associate Professor Julia Gerster of the International 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) delivered a lecture on Japan's approach to disaster mitigation, outlining community-based strategies alongside practical steps individuals can take to improve preparedness. She also addressed challenges faced by foreign residents during emergencies, introducing participants to available resources and support systems. Adding an entrepreneurial dimension, Tohoku University alumnus and Kisuitech Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Tamir Blum shared insights from his experience of building a start-up.

Working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, students were tasked with identifying real-world problems, analysing existing cases, proposing solutions and developing simple prototypes. To maximise learning, organisers made sure that each group had a diverse mix of disciplines and nationalities. Matsushita explained that pre-programme surveys were used to gauge participants' entrepreneurial mindsets, balancing those keen to launch start-ups with those focused on exploration and skills-building.

For many students, collaboration across cultures was a defining feature. "My biggest takeaway from this programme would be the connections that I made with different cultures, experiencing what it's like working on a project with people from all over the world," said Kai Schultes, a mechanical engineering student from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg in Germany.

Lecturers provided ongoing feedback as groups refined their ideas in preparation for the final day's presentations and business pitches. "Though it was a short programme, I felt that I learnt a lot about business perspectives, how to make good use of the frameworks, understanding the customers' needs and learning to put all that into an effective pitch," said Rohit Batra from ITT Madras.

Schultes echoed the sentiment, noting that participants were constantly learning how to communicate their ideas more clearly and persuasively.

Outside the academic programme, students were introduced to Japanese traditional culture through activities such as painting Kokeshi dolls, wearing yukata and attending a tea ceremony. "I enjoyed the whole programme but my favourite part was the cultural experiences, especially wearing the yukata," said Zarlita Maharani from Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology in Indonesia. "I think it was the first time that most of us wore a yukata, so everyone was smiling and we had a lot of fun."

Excursions to Matsushima and the Shiogama Fish Market, as well as a visit to the former Arahama Elementary School - now a disaster memorial site following damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011 - offered further insights into the region's history and resilience.

Reflecting on the experience, Ruei-Ting Lai, who is studying electrical engineering and computer science at National Taiwan University, said the programme far exceeded his expectations. "I thought the programme would be super intensive and very stressful, but it was actually very comfortable because the course was so well designed," he said. "There were a lot of breaks between the sessions for us to talk to each other, get to know each other, exchange different thoughts and ideas. I feel like I am leaving Sendai with a more refreshed mindset."

To learn more about TESP and other exchange programmes offered by the School of Engineering, please visit: https://www.ied.eng.tohoku.ac.jp/en/