Collaborative online international learning (COIL) with the Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Indonesia

　Shinshu University School of Medicine has started collaborative online international learning (COIL) in "Introduction to Medicine I", as a new initiative within a regular class framework for further internationalization.
　This educational program is organized by Dr. TANAKA Naoki, Professor of International Relations, and it targets at all first-year medical students of the School.
　All 120 students are divided into 3 large groups and then work in smaller groups of 6-7 members. Each small group consists of medical students at Shinshu and its' partner universities, and they will deepen their expertise in various health systems and cultures through COIL.
　On October 25, 2021, 40 Shinshu medical students and 42 Diponegoro University medical students (2nd year) held their first online session and talked about "Changes in university life by the COVID-19 pandemic". The groups compared changes at Shinshu and Diponegoro and summarized their learning. As the session goes, students talked about cultures and daily life in both countries and enjoyed online communication in English in a friendly atmosphere.
　At the following session on November 1, all 6 groups gave presentations to all first-year medical students at Shinshu U, and both Shinshu and Diponegoro medical students deepened their understanding of the impacts of the Pandemic.
　At this session, Dr. Ridzky Firmansyah, who graduated from the medical faculty of Diponegoro University and is now studying in the Department of Neurosurgery, Shinshu University Graduate School, was invited to talk about his research life at Shinshu, Japan. His talk helped students imagine their own studies and career development in our internationalized society.
　Shinshu University School of Medicine conducts COIL, expecting our medical students to enjoy interacting with overseas medical students and expand their horizons. We pursue international medical education that all medical students at our school will participate in.

Prof. TANAKA Naoki (Shinshu University)
Prof. Tri Indah Winarni, Dr. Nani Maharani (Diponegoro University)

Voices of participating students

◆ I talked with Indonesian people for the first time. I was glad to hear that you know Japanese culture more or less. You brightened up the atmosphere. I wanted to talk more. I got interested in Indonesia and I will go there absolutely in the future. I enjoyed. Thank you.
◆ I was able to receive good stimulation from medical students from other countries.
◆ I was very impressed that Indonesian students speak English very fluently! Also, their skill to making beautiful slides is awesome. I want to learn from them a lot too.
◆ This program improve passion for studying an English.
◆ Thanks, guys, for the cooperation! I hope we can meet again and get to hang ut sometime. Please, do not hesitate to contact me. Hope we can meet in the future events!!
◆ It was such a good experience to meet fellow medical students across the country.
◆ I'm so happy to be able to discuss with you all. After the discussion, I got to know more about Japanese culture. I'm also so grateful to meet (online) with people as friendly as you all. I hope you all are always healthy, and hopefully we can meet face to face in the future. See you when I see you! Thanks.