Resumes After Seven Years! The In-person Summer Program with Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences

From August 20th to 23rd, 2025, a delegation consisting of six members including faculty and students, led by Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Hashimoto Ichiro, visited Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS), an academic exchange partner university of Tokushima University, and participated in the first in-person "Summer Program" in seven years.

Since the signing of an academic exchange agreement between Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine and MNUMS in 2005, this program has deepened exchanges through mutual visits by faculty and medical students from both universities, with the aim of laying the foundation for future joint research and collaboration. Although the program was suspended for several years due to the global spread of the COVID-19, there was growing interest between the two universities to resume it, leading to the realization of this visit.

The delegation included Professor Hashimoto Ichiro (the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Tsuneyama Koichi (the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ms. Yamamoto Mei, a fifth-year student, Mr. Ishida Yuya, a fourth-year student, and Ms. Matsuda Nanako, a third-year student from the Faculty of Medicine, as well as Ms. Murasawa Fumie, Vice President for Public Relations and International Coordinator for the Faculty of Medicine.

While there, the delegation first paid a courtesy visit to Professor Bilegtsaikhan Tsolmon, Vice President for Research and International Affairs at MNUMS, where they exchanged opinions on the significance of exchanges between the two universities and future prospects. Following this, separate symposiums were held for faculty and students from both universities, and the delegation also visited the Mongolia Japan Hospital, which is JICA’s project involving Tokushima University, Ehime University, and others, to observe the medical facilities.

At the faculty symposium, presentations and exchanges of opinions were held in English on the latest medical information and the medical situation in both countries, while at the student symposium, presentations were given in English introducing universities, curriculums, extracurricular activities, and the daily lives of medical students. Through lively exchanges, the participants deepened friendships and mutual understanding.

Ms. Yamamoto, Mr. Ishida, and Ms. Matsuda fulfilled their responsibilities as representatives of Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine and performed with dignity on the international stage. This visit reaffirmed the ties between the two universities and marked an important step toward further cooperation in the future.

In the second half of the program, the delegation visited the Terelj National Park on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar with Mongolian faculty and students. In the magnificent natural scenery of forests and riverbanks dotted with yurts, the participants had a valuable experience of experiencing traditional Mongolian culture.

Medical students from MNUMS are scheduled to visit Tokushima University next year, and it is expected that exchanges between the two universities will further deepen in the future.

from the left：Mr. Ishida, Dean Prof. Enkhtur Yadamsuren, Ms. Matsuda, Prof. Khandmaa Sukhbaatar, Vice President Bilegtsaikhan Tsolmon, Dean Prof. Hashimoto, Vice Dean Prof. Tsuneyama, Ms. Yamamoto, Vice President Murasawa
Vice President Bilegtsaikhan Tsolmon (right),Dean Prof. Hashimoto (left)	Students giving speeches at the student symposium:Ms. Yamamoto (left), Mr. Ishida (center), Ms. Matsuda (right)
Dean Prof. Hashimoto (third from left) and Vice Dean Prof. Tsuneyama (fourth from left) discuss future collaboration withDirector Bayasgalan Purevdorj (second from left) at the Mongolia Japan Hospital	Visit and experience the Skills Lab at the School of Medicine, adjacent to the Mongolia Japan Hospital
Terelj National Park: Traditional Mongolian music	Terelj National Park: Horseback riding
Terelj National Park: Commemorative photo with students from MNUMS
Terelj National Park: Commemorative photo with all participants