From February 24 (Sat.) to March 6 (Wed.), 2024, seven undergraduate students from Hiroshima University studied the fundamentals of semiconductors from a liberal arts perspective at Purdue University in Indiana, USA. The participating students came from diverse faculties: in addition to the Faculty of Engineering (4 students), the Faculty of Economics (1 student), the Faculty of Bioproduction (1 student), and the Faculty of Integrated Science (1 student). In today’s society, there are an increasing number of complex issues that cannot be solved by specialized knowledge alone, requiring a broad perspective and ability to think from multiple perspectives that transcends both the sciences and humanities. One of the reasons why this program invited participants from all faculties is because one of the goals of this program is to develop flexible human resources with diverse perspectives.
Program Overview
The program consisted of three main components: lectures, visits to research facilities and field trips, and student exchanges. Through each of these activities, the participating students were able to gain valuable experience, especially in the field of semiconductors.
First, as for the lectures, three introductory lectures related to “semiconductors,” the theme of the program, were given. The participating students had been taught basic knowledge of semiconductors in Japanese by Professor Hideki Goto of the Nanodevice Research Institute of Hiroshima University prior to their trip to the program as prior learning, and they were able to understand the English semiconductor class better than expected.
In addition, they participated in classes taken by regular Purdue University students. For example, I had the opportunity to participate in “Effective Presentations in Science” and an omnibus lecture given by a researcher from the Semiconductor Research Institute. By experiencing up-close how regular students learn, the students were stimulated, and their concrete image of their future long-term study abroad program seemed to have grown.
Next, during the program, the students visited cutting-edge research facilities, including a semiconductor facility, a nuclear power plant, and a Subaru assembly plant. Although much of the content was specialized, participating students tried their best to understand it by fully utilizing their own knowledge. There were occasions when graduate students directly explained the facilities to the students, which seemed to be a very stimulating experience for them.
The Birck Nanotechnology Center at Purdue University is a state-of-the-art research facility in the field of nanotechnology. The center is a center for advanced research and development in semiconductor and atomic-scale technologies and is home to more than 300 students, faculty, and staff, with researchers from six different departments working together. The center also plays an important role in advancing nanotechnology by facilitating collaboration with industry, other academic institutions, and government.
The weekend also included an excursion to Chicago. In addition to experiencing a metropolis very different from West Lafayette and enjoying entertainment such as Chicago pizza and a Ferris wheel, the students also visited the Museum of Science and Industry and took a boat tour to learn about Chicago’s architectural history. This seemed to expand their new knowledge and interests for their majors.
Student exchange was one of the main pillars of this program. During the program, TUFS students interacted actively with the Japanese Student Association (JSA), students taking Japanese language courses, the Asian American community, and local Purdue student groups, including students from the College of Engineering (members of which will visit Hiroshima University in May 2024). They were able to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of life as an international student there.
This program has helped our students to maintain their enthusiasm for English language study and international exchange even after returning to their home countries.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is one of the most prestigious state universities in the United States. It has produced three Nobel Prize winners in physics among its graduates. Furthermore, Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi, the 2010 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, is also a graduate of Purdue University. It is truly a university that boasts top-class achievements.
Even more noteworthy is the fact that it has the largest STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) in the United States. It is known as a leader in human resource development, especially in the field of semiconductors, and is a driving force in this field.
Such a prestigious university and Hiroshima University signed an inter-university international exchange agreement in May 2023. They agreed to develop cooperative relations not only in the field of semiconductors, but also in a wide variety of other fields.
Both universities are participating together in UPWARDS for the Future, a program involving 11 U.S. and Japanese universities, including Micron Corporation. This program is a large-scale partnership between the U.S. and Japan for the purpose of fostering semiconductor human resources between the U.S. and Japan. It is an initiative to nurture the talent that will lead the future.
Furthermore, the presidents of both universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of the U.S. and Japanese universities at an education-related agreement signing ceremony held in Hiroshima on the occasion of the G7 Hiroshima Summit. A major step was taken toward future international collaboration.
Through cooperation with three partner universities in the U.S., including Purdue University, we will continue to further develop the University’s “Strengthening University Deployment Capabilities (U.S.) Japan-U.S. Global Human Resource Development Program for the Future in the AI Era”.