School of Dentistry gives a big welcome to Japanese exchange students
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) School of Dentistry recently hosted dental students and faculty from Japan’s Asahi University and Meikai University. The Japanese Student Exchange Program (JSEP) has provided students from both countries with learning experiences and cultural exchange opportunities for 29 years.
A Texas-sized welcome
After arrival, the students began their Texas experience with a visit to a working dude ranch, their first taste of Texas barbecue, a trip to the Alamo and exploration of the River Walk. During their stay, the students also explored other local spots, including an H-E-B grocery store, which is very different from stores in Japan.
Once the week started, students were fitted for scrubs before heading to the Center for Oral Health Care and Research, where Ken Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, dean of the School of Dentistry, welcomed them and introduced them to breakfast tacos. There, they observed clinical activities, which one student noted as the highlight of her trip. Later that day, they toured the newly renovated clinical and simulation laboratories and worked there with second-year UT San Antonio dental students.
“It’s a chance to share what we know and some of our culture,” said second-year student Alan Sujo, originally from McAllen, Texas. “One thing I love about studying at the dental school is how much San Antonio feels like my hometown. And that makes it easy to want to share my experience with the Japanese students.”
Learning across cultures
Students from both countries can benefit greatly from these experiences, according to Carlos G. Landaeta Quinones, DDS, assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, who traveled to Japan during the spring semester with the UT San Antonio students. “This is a triple experience for them. Not only do they get to go to another country, perhaps for the first time, but they also see another culture. They see the similarities and differences in what students in another country are studying, and it can give them a whole new perspective on how careers and specialty fields work.” Beyond bridging languages, these exchanges can enrich what students from both countries take back to their studies. Cultural exchanges between students can help them translate not just language, but also enrich their studies.
Looking toward the future
Noting several differences between the schools’ programs, said both offer perspectives essential to learning and the opportunity to be surrounded by skilled faculty and staff. The student said her time at the school provided valuable learning experiences and opportunities to build lasting connections with her peers, and she looks forward to the exchange continuing in Japan next spring.