International Exchange Programs at Nagaoka National College of Technology : Promoting International Understanding and English Skills

The international exchange project supported by the Institute of National College of Technology was conducted during the academic years 2009 and 2010. The overall aim of this project was to help students develop their skills, knowledge and abilities required for future engineers, through exchanges with higher educational institutions in Asian countries, and by building and tightening regional partnership. The three main programs to achieve this goal were conducting collaborative educational programs with Asian educational institutions and companies, developing overseas training programs, and providing a wide variety of English language learning aids. Although a number of activities and programs were carried out, this paper mainly reports on and discusses those that aimed to promote students' international understanding and English skills. The overall evaluation of those undertakings and suggestions for the development of international exchange programs at national colleges of technology are also provided at the end of this paper