Tokyo, Japan — Seven students from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) participated in the Ochanomizu University Summer Program for Global Leaders 2026, held from 21 July to 5 August 2026 at Ochanomizu University, Japan.
The participating AIT students were May Yi Myint, Cristine Joy Nalunne Pegew, Deep Oza, Sayana Rai, Punnawit Ngansamrej, Kevin Isagani Salazar, and Daryl Anne Varela. Three of them, May Yi Myint, Cristine Joy Nalunne Pegew, and Deep Oza, received scholarship grants from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) to support their participation in the program.
The program brought together students from different countries and academic backgrounds. It gave them an opportunity to study issues related to Japanese society, science, and global challenges.
Students also engaged with their Japanese peers, took part in cultural activities and explored different parts of Tokyo.
Learning Across Disciplines
Deep Oza, from the Agricultural Systems and Engineering Program of the Faculty of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Sayana Rai, from the Structural Engineering Program of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE), joined the course “Five Elements of Natural Science.” The course introduced students to various areas of science and encouraged them to explore the topics from different perspectives.
“Experiencing Japan was a dream come true for me. I will always cherish the learning, connections, and memories the Ochanomizu summer program gave me,” Rai said.
Four other AIT students joined the course “Exploring and Creating Fulfilling and Healthy Human Life in Modern Society.” They were Punnawit Ngansamrej from the School of Management; Kevin Isagani Salazar from the Environmental Engineering and Management Program of FCEE; Cristine Joy Nalunne Pegew from the Gender and Development Studies Program of the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (FPSD), and Daryl Anne Varela from the Sustainable Energy Transition Program of the Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability (FCCS). The course focused on health and well-being in modern society.
Students took part in small-group discussions, where they compared experiences from their home countries and cultures. They explored topics such as nutrition, physical activity and psychological well-being. They also learned about technologies used to support health, including machine learning and smart insoles.
“Sometimes, the most valuable part of an academic journey is not what we learn in the classroom. It is how the experience changes the way we see the world,” Cristine said.
Looking at Japan Through a Global Lens
May Yi Myint, from the Development Planning Management and Innovation Program of FPSD joined “Current Issues in Japanese Culture and Society under Globalization.” The course explored Japan’s economy, foreign relations, governance, and responses to global change.
Students also learned outside the classroom. They watched professional performers present Kyogen, a traditional form of Japanese theatre and tried some of its basic movements.
Another activity introduced them to Kodo, the traditional Japanese art of appreciating incense. Students learned about different scents and made their own scented sachets.
Throughout the program, the AIT students also participated in exchange activities with their peers from Ochanomizu University. They visited the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Museum. These visits helped them understand how Tokyo developed and how life in the city has changed over time.
An Exchange That Has Lasted More Than a Decade
The Ochanomizu Summer Program began in 2013 through the efforts of the AIT Office of International Affairs (OIA), under the leadership of Director Dr. Sumana Shrestha. Since then, the program has provided AIT students with opportunities for academic and cultural exchange in Japan.
Since 2013, more than 100 AIT students have participated in the Ochanomizu Summer Program. For Dr. Shrestha, the value of the program goes beyond sending students abroad. These experiences, she noted, also help build a more open and globally connected AIT community.
“What makes this program meaningful is not simply that our students get to visit Japan. It is that they return with a broader sense of what is possible. I have high hopes that each generation brings back new knowledge, new relationships, and a deeper understanding of how people in different societies learn and live,” Dr Shrestha said.
The 2026 program continued that tradition. For the seven AIT students, the two-week experience offered new knowledge, friendships, and a broader perspective beyond the classroom. Their participation also added another chapter to the AIT-Ochanomizu partnership that has grown since 2013.
As more students cross borders, share ideas, and learn from one another, the AIT-Ochanomizu partnership is set to deepen its partnership and create new opportunities for collaboration in the years and decades ahead.
