USJ-R inks exchange student deal with Hiroshima school

CEBU, Philippines - Senior high school students of the University of San Jose-Recoletos will soon have a chance to experience cultural and academic immersion in a city located in Hiroshima, Japan.

This after USJ-R President Fr. Cristopher Maspara, OAR signed an agreement with Mr. Kobayashi Toshiyuki, principal of Onomichi Commercial Senior High School, last March 3 that put in place the exchange student program for both schools.

“In this age of globalization, cross-border education, and Asian (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) integration, this cultural exchange program is a welcome development,” said Fr. Maspara.

“It will open a lot of opportunities to both our students who will participate in this program by understanding and appreciating other cultures, learning other educational systems, and establishing friendships with our neighbor nations,” he added.

Under the agreement, all educational cooperative activities are mainly focused on the fields of “business education, information technology education and international understanding.”

Mr. Fuji Shinji, an English teacher at Onomichi Commercial Senior High School, said their school is the tenth oldest school in Japan. It was established in 1899, or a year after Onomichi City was founded.

He said their school has three departments that house their different program offerings: business, accounting and information management department.

“We chose to partner with you because you also have an established business education department, computer programs, accountancy program and science and technology,” he said.

The Japanese principal hoped the partnership will “establish solid foundation for opportunities that would benefit our students.”

“I wholeheartedly dream that together, we can advance our students’ skillsets in a variety of areas that include language study and computer technology,” he said.

The exchange program agreement with Onomichi was signed a day before a group of Japanese students from Toyo University Ushiku Junior and Senior High School arrived at USJ-R for another exchange program, said Senior High School principal Mrs. Nila Garcia.

She said 38 senior high school students (aged 15 to 16 years old) arrive for a five-day immersion. They were housed by host families from the senior high school department.

The students (24 girls and 14 boys) were accompanied by two teachers and representatives from their chosen travel agency. The principal said they lined up activities for the whole duration the Japanese stayed in Cebu.

In April, she said, 40 Josenian students will fly to Japan for their immersion in Toyo University Ushiku Junior and Senior High School. The principal said they were yet to finalize the date. (FREEMAN)