Exchange programme: Takaski University of Health and Welfare (TUHW)
TUHW has been our partner university since 2023. Together with colleagues from the Centre for Teacher Training, the International Office, and the Department of Educational Migration Research, we organise international exchange programmes in which students from Japan and Germany come together to learn more about the respective school systems and, drawing on their different cultural and educational backgrounds, to discuss the concept of the “ideal school”. In March 2027, eight students from Japan will visit Landau, and we are looking for RPTU students who would like to accompany the Japanese guests. In addition, a study trip to Takasaki, Japan, is planned for fall 2027. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Ami Kobayashi (a.kobayashi@rptu.de).
Activities
From September 7 to 11, Sickingen High School in Landstuhl held a project week on the topic of “Japanese Culture.”
During the event, two RPTU students who had participated in the study trip to Japan gave a presentation about their experiences in Japan.
Four RPTU students arrived in Takasaki, Japan, on April 19, 2026, to participate in the exchange program. The official program began on April 20 with a group lunch with Japanese Professors and students in the cafeteria at Takasaki University of Health and Welfare (TUHW), our Japanese partner university.
You can find a report on this (in German) here:
Program Overview:
- Courses at TUHW
- Visits to educational institutions
- Homestays and cultural activities
The visit by the RPTU students left a strong impression on everyone involved. The participants were able to broaden their horizons both academically and culturally. Therefore, we definitely want to continue this program (mutual visits).
The following visits are therefore planned for the future:
March 2027:
Visit by TUHW students to Landau (& Kaiserslautern)
September 2027:
Visit by RPTU students to Takasaki
In September 2025, eight students from our Japanese partner university visited Landau.
You can find a report on this (in German) here:
Program Overview:
- Visits to Schools and Daycare Centers: Landau South Elementary School
- Heinrich-Heine-Gymnasium (Kaiserslautern)
- Villa Unibunt Daycare Center, Landau
- Lectures
- Lecture 1: Prof. Angelo Van Gorp (Historical Educational Research)
- Lecture 2: Prof. Lisa Rosen (Intercultural Education)
- Presentation by the Japanese students: “Japanese (Pre-)School Education”
- Group discussion: “Similarities, differences …”, “the school I’d like …”
- Tandem activities
In April 2025, Prof. Van Gorp and Dr. Kobayashi visited the partner university in Takasaki, Japan. In preparation for a study trip to Japan, they toured local educational institutions with Japanese colleagues. In addition, Prof. Van Gorp gave a guest lecture at the partner university, which was consecutively translated into Japanese by Dr. Kobayashi.
In September 2024, three students and Prof. Yoshiko Matsuda from our Japanese partner university visited Landau.
You can find a brief report on the visit (in German) here:
In March 2024, Dr. Kobayashi visited our partner university, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, in Japan. She gave a guest lecture and introduced the RPTU to the students and faculty members at the partner university. She also visited schools and a kindergarten in Takasaki.
In September 2023, three students and Prof. Yoshiko Matsuda from our Japanese partner university visited Landau.
You can find a brief report on the visit (in German) here:
On March 13 and 14, 2023, Prof. Hiroko Okamoto and Prof. Yoshiko Matsuda from Takasaki University of Health and Welfare in Japan visited the RPTU in Landau. This visit was facilitated by Dr. Ami Kobayashi from the Historical Educational Research Unit and served as an opportunity to get to know each another. The goal was to draft a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration and the exchange of faculty members and students. In addition, our Japanese guests visited the Villa Unibunt daycare center and an Elementary School in Landau.