Japanese student cohort strengthens education links with Whanganui

UCOL Whanganui has celebrated a successful cohort from Japan, as part of the collaborative internship programme with National Institute of Technology Tsuruoka College and Whanganui & Partners.

The group, made up of 16 students aged between 16-19, began their English and culture immersion exchange on 23 February and yesterday, were acknowledged in an intimate ceremony with English language certificates.

Academic Portfolio Manager Jan MacGibbon says while the students have good foundations in grammar and written English, their time in Whanganui was focused on building confidence in spoken English, practising real-world conversation, expressing ideas, opinions, and feelings and developing communication skills for global contexts.

“It’s been wonderful watching these students improve their conversational English over the last three weeks. They’ve all worked so hard and thrown themselves into every opportunity to speak with our local community and really improve their skills.”

Classes ran from 9.00am to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday, with an emphasis on interactive, output-focused learning designed to help students actively use their English in meaningful ways.

“This visit reflects a growing connection between Whanganui and Japan, supporting youth development, global citizenship, and educational exchange.

“It also provides local learners and the wider community opportunities for cross-cultural engagement and shared learning experiences,” MacGibbon says.

Rachel Hoskin, Strategic Lead – Tech and Education for Whanganui & Partners, says the relationship originally began in Tokyo in 2024. “We were able to progress that relationship with UCOL, where together we signed an MOU in Tsuruoka. We’re now looking at further expansions across the KOSEN network and are looking forward to welcoming groups every year.”

Group Chaperone, Professor Shigeharu Ito, says the trip has been a wonderful experience for every member of the cohort, with many of them wanting to stay much longer in Whanganui.

“We are so grateful for the hospitality and warmth we have received during our stay, and I look forward to the opportunity to return with future groups.”