On the evening of May 26, 2025, the Civil Engineering International Student Exchange Event was held at FORICO, the Kumamoto University Co-op. The event was organized to promote internationalization in the civil engineering department and to foster connections among international students. The graduate program currently enrolls 34 international students, including exchange students. Two second-year master’s students, Raden Muhammad Azhar Ardlin Syah and Xiang Zhou, served as organizers.

At the event, Raden served as MC. The gathering opened with remarks from Prof. Toshifumi Mukunoki, Head of the Department, followed by a toast led by Prof. Hiroshi Cho, Head of the Internationalization Working Group, before a buffet-style reception began. 22 international students attended (from China, Indonesia, Germany, Czech Republic, and Mauritania) including both degree-seeking students and exchange students. Conversation flowed freely throughout the evening. Participants exchanged updates on their ongoing research and took turns introducing themselves, sharing their backgrounds and interests. The room was lively and warm, making for a truly rewarding 2 hours.

To close the event, Prof. Masahide Matsumura, Vice Director of the Kumamoto City Water Cycle and Disaster Mitigation Research and Education Center, led all participants in a traditional Japanese group clap, a festive way to bring everyone together for a unified send-off. We hope to organize a second gathering in the near future.