Message to international students overseas.

This is a video message from Vice President Diana Khor , to international students who have not been able to enter Japan due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection.

Hello, I am Diana Khor, Vice-President of Hosei University in charge of global matters. I also serve as the Director of the Global Education Center at the university. Today, I’d like to speak specifically to our international students who are still overseas.  

Every year, we welcome a good number of international students into our Japanese-taught as well as English-taught programs, but the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many of these students from coming to Japan and pursuing their study on campus.  Indeed, courses were taught online at the height of the pandemic and it is only starting this Spring that most classes are conducted in the classroom. Domestic students and international students in Japan obviously felt the strain of the lack of a normal university life, and we can only imagine how it must have been or still is for you not to be able to enter Japan, let alone set foot on campus.

Starting March this year, with the gradual lifting of border measures that had restricted the entrance of foreign nationals visiting Japan for the first time, we gradually see more international students on our three campuses. However, as some border restrictions still apply, not to mention the impact of various domestic conditions, many international students have yet to arrive on campus. For those of you who are still taking classes with us from overseas, let me tell you that we feel with you, and that we are doing our very best to reach out and connect with you even though you are not physically with us here.

As you might have found out already, professors hold HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible) classes to make sure that students who cannot attend in-person classes are not disadvantaged.  Should you run into any difficulties, the teaching as well as the administrative staff at your faculty or department are ready to help you. Do not hesitate to contact them. In addition, not only is the Global Education Center ready to assist you in the process of entering Japan, it also organizes various online student exchange events. Check them out, as there might be some that you can also participate in. The information is provided on our website, but again, if you have any questions, contact the Global Education Center any time.

Many, if not all of you, are preparing to travel to Japan. I’d like to ensure you that our support doesn’t stop upon your entering Japan. I can speak from experience that settling down at an unfamiliar place, while enjoyable and exciting, also requires a lot of effort and may incur stress as well. Let me emphasize that not only do we welcome international students, but we also have very good support for our international students during their tenure at the university.

You are miles apart from us now, but we warmly await your arrival. Do know that we are connected despite the physical distance. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hosei campus. In the meantime, take care.