Global Learning Online and in Germany - Participant’s Report on SEMERA 2024 Program

Kanako Tezuka, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Science Tokyo

The Semester for Medical Research Aachen Program (SEMERA), hosted by RWTH Aachen University, is designed for students in health sciences who have a strong interest in research or are already considering a scientific career. This year, Science Tokyo fourth-year medical student Kanako Tezuka participated in the 12-week program, becoming the first-ever participant from Japan. She had a valuable opportunity to study alongside students from around the world. Here is her report on her experience in the program.

I had not traveled abroad since the pandemic began. Satisfied with the excellent academic environment at Science Tokyo, I had lost the ambition to explore learning opportunities outside Japan. However, an email addressed to all undergraduate students introduced me to SEMERA hosted by RWTH Aachen University. This program offers students worldwide the chance to learn online how to conduct health sciences-related research, with the option of attending the final three days in person at the university. My deep interest in medical studies motivated me to apply, and I was lucky to be accepted. Thanks to support from Science Tokyo, I attended the in-person sessions in Germany and had an unforgettable experience.

SEMERA stands for “Semester for Medical Research Aachen” and takes place from September to December. I studied about research methods online with students from Germany, Mexico, Italy, Romania, India, and so many other countries. We did a lot of assignments in groups. Because of the big time difference between Japan and Europe, I couldn’t participate in some meetings. However, I kept in touch with group members on apps like WhatsApp and managed to complete the assignments. The other students were really proactive, and I thought that Japanese students could learn from this. Everyone also spoke in English, and I was inspired to study the language even harder and become more fluent. Happily, when medical terms came up, I understood them because I had learned these words as part of my regular studies at Science Tokyo. The course ended with final presentations held both online and onsite. For these presentations, we had to research academic content and compile the information into easy-to-understand posters. I was overwhelmed by the excellence of everyone’s posters.

For the last part of the program, I spent a little less than a week in the city of Aachen in western Germany, talking with local students, going to the Christmas market (the currywurst was very delicious!), and of course studying at RWTH Aachen University. This university is strong in the fields of engineering, medicine and natural sciences. The campus is spread throughout the city and is dotted with many university-related buildings. One that caught my eye was a training facility called the "Skills Lab," which is similar to the one we have at Science Tokyo but on a much larger scale. There are many rooms for medical students to learn clinical and communication skills in a hands-on way. Simulation equipment is available for everything from emergency response to inpatient care, so you can learn in an environment that is close to the actual medical field. In addition, I felt the connection between engineering and medicine was everywhere. For instance, a professor specializing in Cardiovascular Engineering explained how his initial interest in fluid mechanics evolved into the study of the human heart. I was inspired by this combination of expertise, and it made me reflect on the potential at Science Tokyo, where the recent integration of Tokyo Tech and TMDU provides an excellent opportunity to do similar interdisciplinary collaborations.

During the SEMERA program, I had discussions about medicine with students from around the world. I realized the importance of understanding how medicine is practiced in other countries and became more aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Japan’s medical system. I also realized that the medical knowledge I have gained at Science Tokyo is top-class. Before I started this program, I was worried about whether I would be able to keep up with international students, but during discussions with them I felt that we were able to transcend the boundaries of English and other languages and communicate using the common language of “medicine.” This boosted my confidence and made me want to challenge myself to do further study beyond Japan.

Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible!