Report on Student workshop in Osaka University
The student workshop was held over three days (24-26 June) at the Graduate School of Engineering Science and the School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan, with participation of 26 students from National University of Singapore, University of Toronto, University of California, Berkeley, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Osaka University. This event, organized by Osaka University students, provided a platform for participants to discuss topics such as the necessity of Engineering Science; the difference between Engineering and Science; current curriculums and principles of each university; and the future development of Engineering Science.
The workshop was the first major event by the International Engineering Science Consortium since its formation in December 2012. It was not only a great opportunity for students but also for professors to rethink what Engineering Science is - and what it should be.
We found that while the concept of Engineering Science varies slightly with each university, taking a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving is the gold standard for Engineering Science.
Sharing of information among universities is important in order to come to a common understanding and one of the Engineering Science Consortium's roles is to make the connection between academics and society.
Mr Teruhiko Saito, a doctoral student from the Osaka University, chaired the discussion on the final day. Besides discussions, participants also went on a trip to Kyoto. After a Japanese lunch, they put on the "Yukata" and visited Kiyomizu-dera. They looked so cool in traditional Japanese costumes that many tourists gathered round them and took photographs with them.
