Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy took another formative step last week in furthering its partnership with a Japanese institution of higher education, Matsuyama University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Three leaders from the international school spent Sept. 17-20 in the U.S., sitting in on classes, learning about Concordia’s curriculum, observing CUW facilities and resources, taking in cultural sights, and, ultimately, discussing ways that the two universities could form mutually beneficial learning opportunities for students. Pictured above from left are: Concordia President Rev. Patrick T. Ferry, PhD, Dr. Ichiro Matsuoka, Dr. Hiroshi Nomoto and Dr. Takumi Yamaguchi.
The visit builds upon a trip Concordia’s School of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Dean Arneson and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Dr. Uvidelio Castillo took last March, where Concordia signed a memorandum of understanding with Matsuyama. The document articulates that collaborations will be undertaken through activities or programs such as exchange of students, exchange of faculty members, joint research activities, joint educational programs, and exchange of academic materials.
The partnership is a natural fit, says Arneson. The courses and clinical training structure for Matsuyama’s pharmacy school is very similar to that of Concordia’s. Castillo, who obtained his PhD from Nagoya University in Japan, says the partnership presents a great opportunity for CUW students to enhance their pharmacy and cultural knowledge.
While Concordia’s School of Pharmacy offers multiple international learning opportunities for students, including trips to Peru, Zambia, and in the future, China, this would be the first formalized partnership working directly with a university.
“These types of study abroad opportunities, it’s not something that every School of Pharmacy offers,” says Arnerson. “There’s definitely a clear benefit to it. International learning opportunities can help students gain a better understanding of health care in other cultures and it creates opportunities for both faculty and students to broaden their horizons and hopefully reach across cultural barriers.”