Academic Exchange with the Land of the Rising Sun Continues: LSMU Once Again Welcomes Students from Japan for Internship

For the second year in a row, a delegation of Japanese students from the International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW) is visiting the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU).

Like last year, the young people will stay in Kaunas for a month. The University has developed an individual learning plan for each of them, enabling them to learn best clinical practices, see how the Lithuanian health system works, and get to know the culture of our country.

“It is a great honour and responsibility for us to welcome you here. We hope that you will enjoy not only your experience in the hospital and your training here, but also the city, the spring, and the culture.  As our universities are geographically so distant from each other, this is a great opportunity for you to share your culture and understanding, and for us – to share the aspects of teaching and learning at our University,” said Prof. Rimantas Benetis, Rector of LSMU, as he welcomed the guests.

Continuity of exchanges testifies to a high standard of quality

This time, 20 IUHW students came on an academic exchange. This is twice as many as last year. Meanwhile, a return visit of 20 LSMU students to Japan will take place in autumn.

According to Prof. Dr. Andrius Macas, the Dean of the LSMU Faculty of Medicine, who is responsible for theoretical and practical training of the Japanese students, the fact that the academic exchange with the Japanese university continues demonstrates the high quality of LSMU’s preparation and teaching.

“The fact that Japanese students and our students visiting each other’s institutions for the second time is a very clear testimony of quality, if not the standard. We have to acknowledge that, thanks to the Rector of the University and the great work of the International Relations and Studies Centre, Japanese universities see us as a partner and appreciate the level of quality we have achieved. We can see how much effort has gone into the planning of student incoming and outgoing visits. At the same time, we see how responsibly our Japanese partners send their students to Europe. This requires great commitment, but it is also very rewarding.”

He also complimented the young Japanese: “They are students from a different culture, which is a pleasure to get to know. Their culture is one of elegance and serenity. These students have an exceptional sense of duty and respect for someone even slightly older. Not a pretended respect, but a genuine respect. They are very warm and have a very profound feeling,” said the Dean.

Determined to gain maximum knowledge and learn about the culture

The IUHW students visiting the LSMU will stay in the University’s dormitories. The young people are interested in different fields of medicine and each will follow an individual learning plan.

Masato Ishida, who dreams of working as a surgeon in Europe, says he wants to learn as much as he can from this internship: “I want to learn as much as possible. I am most interested in the differences between Lithuanian and Japanese clinical processes, as well as the culture of communication between Lithuanian doctors and their patients.”

This is the first time M. Ishida is visiting Europe. He has already visited Kaunas Castle and the Old Town.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in Japan. I really like Europe, I just didn’t expect it to be so cold”, the young man shared his impressions.

In their free time, the Japanese students will visit the Anatomy Museum, the Lithuanian History of Medicine and Pharmacy Museum, and the Sugihara House Museum. LSMU mentors will show them around Kaunas, and on weekends they will go on excursions to Trakai and Curonian Spit.