Tohoku University
Graduate School of Dentistry

From February 2 to February 13, 2026, the Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry held the Feb 2026 CA+inD Winter Short-term Exchange Program: Multimodal Global Leaders Development through Asian-Model Dentistry Consortium. This program is part of the CAMPUS Asia Plus Program, which is part of the Inter-University Exchange Project established by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).

The aim of this program is to nurture multimodal global leaders, that is, individuals who are capable of selecting and applying knowledge and skills acquired from a multitude of perspectives. They shall do so in a manner appropriate to the needs of education, research, health care, industry, and government, while also understanding how these different contexts interact.

A total of 33 students from 12 universities across 7 countries and regions participated in this program. From CA+inD partner universities, participants included students from Seoul National University and Yonsei University in Korea; Chulalongkorn University in Thailand; and the University of Indonesia in Indonesia. From partner universities of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, students joined from Kaohsiung Medical University, National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan University, and National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan; Airlangga University in Indonesia; Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences in Mongolia; and the University of the Philippines Manila in Philippines. In addition, students from Chonnam National University in Korea participated in the program for the first time, further strengthening student-to-student exchange. The diverse participation from multiple institutions significantly enhanced the international character of the program.

During the two-week program, students participated in lectures delivered by faculty from the Graduate School of Dentistry, engaged in hands-on dental workshops, and took part in in-person hospital and classroom visits.

As part of the cultural exchange activities, we organized a Wagashi (Japanese sweets) Cooking workshop conducted by Sendai Kasho-an Kashin Moriya and co-hosted by TUIDSO, and a Japanese drum workshop by Kamotsunamura Daiko Group. Additionally, students joined a one-day bus Field Trip to Minamisanrikucho. As part of the program, participants visited San-san Shopping Street to learn about local community revitalization efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake. The schedule also included a hotel lunch and free time. Participants who wish to do so will have the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese onsen (hot spring). In the afternoon, we went to Minami-sanriku Hospital, where we attended a special lecture delivered by Dr. Masaji Saito, Head of the Department of Dental and Oral Surgery. The lecture provided insights into regional healthcare practices and post-disaster medical support in the area. During the Minamisanrikucho field trip, participants took part in a storytelling bus tour, where Mr. Goto, a survivor of the Great East Japan Earthquake, shared insights about the tsunami’s devastation and the recovery efforts.

Additionally, 6 students participated in a homestay program, experiencing authentic Japanese daily life with the support of their host families. This year, 7 student supporters from Tohoku University played an active role in supporting the program. Despite being in the middle of the exam period, many Tohoku University students volunteered to participate, helping to make the program even more enriching and fulfilling. Overall, this program was an important step in building a network of future dentists.