Participating in the ISS Summer Festival last June led to the invaluable opportunity to visit The Ohio State University (OSU). I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who made this experience possible and to those at OSU who welcomed us so warmly.
The scale of the OSU campus exceeded my imagination; I believe every student from the University of Tsukuba was equally surprised. For instance, the Ohio Stadium with its 100,000-person capacity amazed us, as a facility of this magnitude doesn’t even exist in Japan. I truly wish we had an environment similar to the RPAC (Recreation and Physical Activity Center) at Tsukuba to support both physical and mental well-being. The fact that students can use such a comprehensive facility including gear rentals until midnight is something I truly envy. Additionally, I really like the library’s open-atrium design which provides the perfect place to focus on my laptop. Attending a basketball game was a powerful experience as well. I could feel the immense pride the Buckeyes take in their alma mater.
The academic environment was equally inspiring. It was enlightening to see students pursuing double majors to become “Pi-shaped” talent gaining a broader perspective. The close collaboration between the university and industry, through long-term internships, international programs, and corporate-sponsored hackathons, encouraged students to take on practical challenges.
My personal highlight of this trip was the visit to the Assistive Technology Center. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to tour the “Wheelchair Clinic.” The commitment to enhancing users’ quality of life through human-centered design deeply resonated with my research interests.
Although it was a brief 10-day visit, it was a meaningful experience filled with learning and inspiration. I am truly grateful for the warm hospitality and the insightful exchanges I had with the people at OSU.
