Wright State President Sue Edwards explores furthering student exchange opportunities during visit to Japan

Wright State University President Sue Edwards visited the Kake Educational Institution and the Junsei Educational Institution in Japan during International Education Week in November.

Wright State University President Sue Edwards visited several of Wright State’s institutional partners in Japan to discuss opportunities to expand exchange opportunities for students.

During International Education Week in 2024, Edwards traveled to Okayama and Kyoto, Japan, to visit with students, faculty, staff and administrators at the Kake Educational Institution and the Junsei Educational Institution.

Both institutions are comprised of several pre-schools, K-12 schools, institutes, colleges and universities throughout Japan, including important Wright State partners Kibi International University, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts and Okayama University of Science.

The visit included discussions with Wright State’s Japanese partner institutions to explore additional exchange opportunities for Wright State students and students from Junsei Educational Institution and the Kake Educational Institution.

Edwards also met with students from Okayama University of Science and Kurashiki University of Science and Arts who had visited Wright State to learn about their experiences in the United States.

“The experiences shared have reinforced my dedication to fostering opportunities for students at Wright State University and in Japan to broaden their international perspectives and cultural understanding,” Edwards said.

“We hope that President Edwards’ visit will inspire students to take on the challenge of studying abroad at Wright State University,” Kibi International University said in an article about her visit. “We also hope that the relationship between the two universities will be further strengthened.”

Wright State’s first international exchange program was launched in 1979 with Kake Educational Institution. The exchange program involves three Japanese universities: Okayama University of Science, Okayama University of Science Specialized Training College and Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts.

During the exchange program, the Japanese students take English language and culture classes, visit local and area attractions and stay with American families in their homes.

As a result of Edwards’ visit, students from Junsei Educational Institution will now be part of the program at Wright State in the summer of 2025.

President Sue Edwards and a group of students from Japan planted a sakura tree, or cherry blossom tree, in the Garden of Senses on the Dayton Campus.

Wright State students who travel to Japan as part of the program likewise stay with Japanese families. Some of them have since gotten jobs with Japanese companies in the United States.

Wright State has planted 11 sakura trees, or cherry blossom trees, in the Garden of Senses to symbolize the success of the exchange program.

Over 1,600 international students from 72 countries enrolled at Wright State in the fall of 2024, with the largest intake of new international students this fall in Wright State’s history.

Learn more about international education at Wright State at wright.edu/international-education.