NIC Students Share Their Experiences at Prestigious UK and US Universities

On October 14th, 2024, NUCB International College held an assembly where students had the chance to share their experiences visiting prestigious universities in the UK and the US while participating in their summer programmes. Three of them visited University College London (UCL) and Cambridge University, and others visited prestigious US universities such as Harvard University and Columbia University.

The three students who participated in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge learned about space research and the future of humanity through lectures by professors from UCL and Cambridge University, information exchanges with researchers, and collaborative group projects between Japanese and British high school students under the theme “Space and Humanity”. This special programme was organized by Dr. Shinichi Onuma, a Professor of Ophthalmology at UCL. Reflecting on their experiences this summer, the three students said, “In this program with about 50 students each from Japan and the UK, there were Japanese students who were not confident in their English, and British students who were not confident in their Japanese. But, we were able to act as a bridge between both groups because of our experiences at NIC which developed our language and communication skills". One student who is considering a career in space engineering also reflected on the valuable opportunities they had at UCL, including a visit to the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory and a talk with JAXA Advisor to Vice Chairman Kate Kitagawa. She said, “I feel that space has unlimited potential to solve the problems humans currently face on Earth. My interest in space-related work has become even stronger!"

One student who participated in Harvard University's seven-week summer programme took courses in “Principles of Economics” and “The Planets, the Moon, and the Search for Stars,” two of Harvard's undergraduate courses. They not only took the classes, but also submitted assignments and took mid-term and final exams, just like undergraduates, and earned 4 credits each. She reflected on her experiences, “I keenly realized the importance of self-discipline in college. Understanding class content, submitting assignments, and taking exams are all your own responsibilities, and no one will go out of their way to help you unless you ask for help yourself. It was very difficult to take university courses while also doing my summer homework, but it was a good learning experience.”  As a specific example of her class participation, she said, “NIC uses the case method of teaching, so I am used to raising my hand and expressing my opinion in class and exchanging ideas with others. This has allowed me to speak up in classes at Harvard without hesitation, which has led to a deeper understanding of the subject.”

One student who visited Columbia University and Georgetown University took courses in international diplomacy and participated in lectures and group discussions. By learning together with many other participants who aspire to become politicians, they were given a great opportunity to think deeply about whether international diplomacy is the right career path for them. In addition, through interaction with local university students, they received advice on preparing for entrance exams to US universities and were able to picture their ideal university environment.

In addition to the universities mentioned previously, NIC students also participated in summer programmes at Oxford University, the University of Sydney, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and various other overseas universities. Meeting people from all over the world and traveling to different countries allowed students to learn valuable things that they could not have learned in Japan alone. Our educational philosophy “Frontier Spirit” shined in all these students who challenged themselves to be international leaders of the future.

NIC Advantages

NUCB International College is designed to provide a world-class education with excellent facilities and a rich natural environment, on its 200-acre campus, in Nisshin city, Japan.

Excellence in Education

The case method, first developed at Harvard Business School in 1922 and now commonly used in elite academic institutions worldwide, is incorporated into the teaching approaches for leadership education at NIC. Small classes enable personalised supervision by multinational faculty members with master's or doctoral degrees and faculty from affiliated top business schools. In addition, the Summer School for prospective students (July) and a preparatory course (the Bridging Programme) for September admission are also offered.

Safe Boarding Environment

The school provides a safe and secure co-educational boarding environment with reference to international boarding standards. 'House Supervisors', who are well versed in psychological and health management, provide daily support and regular individual counselling to ensure optimal support and guidance for each student. Through living together with peers from different cultures and experiences, students develop the qualities required of the next generation of leaders.