A ceremony was held on Katahira Campus on August 4 to recognise 35 students for their contributions to Tohoku University's internationalisation efforts - and for the first time, the entire event was conducted in English.

In his congratulatory address, University President Teiji Tominaga highlighted the importance of a global mindset as Tohoku University pursues its goal of becoming one of the world's top academic and research institutions. "Today, AI makes accessing knowledge as easy as pressing a button," he said. "For the university, this makes providing hands-on, real-world experience more important than ever. That's why your experience in these programmes will truly set you apart as global talent."

Seventeen students received the Global Hagi Scholarship to study abroad at partner institutions. Supported by the Tohoku University Fund, the scholarship is awarded to those with outstanding academic records. "Take advantage of this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a new environment and engage with people who have different ideas and perspectives," said Tominaga. "We believe in you, so make us proud."

Kosei Takahashi, a third-year engineering student, accepted the award on behalf of the group, while Aya Tsuruta from the School of Medicine delivered the speech.

Reflecting on her own journey, Tsuruta described arriving at Tohoku University confident in her English ability, only to discover how difficult real conversations with international students could be. "I was completely overwhelmed by their natural speed and diverse accents, and I could not utter a single word," she said. "As someone who has loved communicating with people since childhood, being unable to interact at all left me frustrated."

The experience prompted her to pursue a short-term study abroad programme in the United States and to become actively involved in Tohoku University's Intercultural Collaborative Learning (ICL) programmes and the campus circle IPLANET.

"I discovered the true essence of international exchange," she said. "Connection is not about speaking perfectly, but about having the courage to connect heart-to-heart." Tsuruta is now bound for Baylor University in Texas, where she intends to deepen her knowledge and understanding of global public health.

Eighteen additional students received their Global Leader (TGL) certification during the ceremony, with Sae Matsuno from the Faculty of Education accepting the award on their behalf.

The TGL programme is a cornerstone of the university's efforts to promote an international curriculum and foster collaborative learning across cultures. Students earn certification by accumulating points through globally focused classes, study abroad activities, and foreign language proficiency tests.

In his speech, third-year mechanical and aerospace engineering student Kosuke Kuwata said the TGL programme had broadened both his outlook and his ambitions. "TGL set me on a path I might otherwise never have taken. I don't think I would have met such a wide range of people, had my assumptions challenged so often, or discovered how wide the world is."

Kuwata will soon begin an exchange programme in the United Kingdom, where he hopes to collaborate with local students in English and gain first-hand experience in an international research environment. "Through this experience, I hope to develop the practical skills needed to become an engineer who can adapt and succeed internationally," he said.

The Global Leader certificates are awarded twice a year. More than 300 students have received certification since the TGL programme began in 2013.