Akita International University Exchange Program

Farewell and See You on Instagram!!👋

For many years, we have shared campus life at AIU through this page, and we sincerely thank you all for your engagement and support.🫂

As of January 2026, the Center for International Affairs will no longer be updating this page and will be shifting our social media presence to the official AIU Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/akitainternationaluniversity/). On Instagram, we will be sharing a wider variety of photos and videos to give you a more vivid look at life at AIU. ✨🌈While some posts will be in Japanese, you can easily use the Instagram translation feature to view them in your preferred language.💡

We also plan to increase English-language Stories on the official account, featuring topics such as snapshots of daily life in Akita shared by current study abroad students and updates on where and how our alumni are active today.📸

We would love to stay connected with you on Instagram, so please follow us there for future updates. If you have photos or content you would like us to feature on Instagram, feel free to contact the Center for International Affairs by email at [email protected]. 🙋🏻‍♀️📧

We look forward to connecting with you again on Instagram!🤗

国際教養大学／AIU (@akitainternationaluniversity) • Instagram photos and videos 9,073 Followers, 19 Following, 471 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 国際教養大学／AIU ()

Olaf Wilczynski, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/90660/

Student Voice: A Semester of Discovery in Akita | Akita International University Olaf Wilczynski, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to

Cebic Nikola Stefan, Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur, Switzerland is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/90194/

Student Voice: …San, Yon, Go, Hanare! – The Beauty of Kyudo at AIU | Akita International University Cebic Nikola Stefan, Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur, Switzerland is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like

🌈Diversity Week at AIU🌈
From Tuesday, November 25, to Sunday, November 30, AIU held its second ever “Diversity Week.” ✨Diversity Week was launched as a new event last year as part of efforts to embody AIU Core Values, which includes valuing diversity.🫂 AIU has long been known as a diverse campus due to its large population of international students coming from around 50 different countries across the world, 🌎but during this year’s Diversity Week our students explored other facets of diversity, including culture, communication, SOGIE, and disability awareness.💡🗣️🏳️‍🌈♿ Activities included exhibitions on individual expression in art, satirical cartoons, a special exhibition in the AIU library featuring books on diversity, and mirrors set up throughout campus with messages encouraging students to reflect on their unique identities.🌟 In addition, each day of Diversity Week also featured discussions, a movie screening on disability awareness, and a guest lecture on SOGIE identities.
Diversity is one of the things that makes AIU such a special learning environment for both international and domestic students alike, so we hope this week gave students the opportunity to reflect on their place in AIU and the larger community.💐

Nicolas Hall, University of Northern Iowa, U.S.A. is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/90098/

Student Voice: My Experience with the AIU Kanto Team - Nicolas Hall, University of Northern Iowa, U.S.A. | Akita International University Nicolas Hall, University of Northern Iowa, U.S.A. is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at

🛫Study Abroad Fair at AIU🌎
ON November 12, and Friday, November 14, AIU held a study abroad fair to introduce our international partner universities to AIU students.🏫
At AIU, one year of study abroad at a partner university is a graduation requirement, so many of our students begin researching which university they would like to go to starting from their Freshman year! But with over 200 universities in over 50 countries to choose from, where to start…?🤔
This is where AIU’s short-term international exchange students and AIU students returned from study abroad come in! 12 international exchange students and 26 degree-seeking students who have completed their study abroad volunteered to take part in our study abroad fair, where they spoke with AIU students to share information about their home/host universities, countries and cultures. ✨This is not only an opportunity for our students to think about where they should study abroad, but to speak with students from all over the world and make new friends! 🌈 There were also lots of goodies from our partner universities available for visitors.😍

Thank you to all of our volunteers!🤗

Autumn Colors (Koyo) 🍂 and the Coming of Winter (Ritto) ☃️
According to the Japanese solar calendar, Ritto (立冬) ☃️ is the day that marks the official beginning of the winter season. Ritto generally occurs in early November, although the exact day changes every year. This year, Ritto was on Monday, November 7, and during the week of the 7th many areas in Akita Prefecture enjoyed the peak of the autumn colors season, known as Koyo (紅葉)🍁. In particular, two of Akita’s most popular tourist spots, Kakunodate and Lake Tazawa, were stunningly vibrant over the past weekend. 📸
Now that both Ritto and the peak of Koyo have passed, it’s time to begin the countdown to the first snowfall! 🌨️ Many AIU students are busy with mid-term exams and papers at the moment, but we hope everyone will stay warm and healthy! 🧥🧣🧤

🚌AIU BUS TRIP🚌: Mt. Moriyoshi and Kakunodate
On October 25, 2025, 125 AIU students, including 100 international students, visited Mt. Moriyoshi and Kakunodate. 🏔️
Mt. Moriyoshi is located in the central eastern part of Akita Prefecture covered with virgin beech forests🌲 and many valleys, streams, and majestic waterfalls. 🏞️ Well known for its beautiful fields of wildflowers in spring and summer,🌼 it is also a sight to behold in fall for its colorful foliage.🍂 Our students enjoyed a panoramic view of the scenery from a gondola ride up the mountain at the Ani Ski Resort.🚠
After exploring the upper reaches of Mt. Moriyoshi, students hopped about the famous Akita Nairiku Line, 🚞a sight-seeing train that takes passengers along jaw-dropping scenic routes throughout the northern half of the prefecture. From there, students disembarked at the Nairiku Line terminus, Kakunodate, also known as the “Little Kyoto” of Akita Prefecture due to the traditional samurai residences that line the streets.🏯

👉MORE ABOUT Mt. Moriyoshi🏔️: https://t.ly/KSlvh
👉MORE ABOUT Akita Nairiku Line🚞 : https://www.akita-nairiku.com/en/

Pavlo Khmaruk, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, Netherlands is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/89584/

Student Voice: My fall semester at Akita International University - Pavlo Khmaruk, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, Netherlands | Akita International University Pavlo Khmaruk, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, Netherlands is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to

On October 12-13, AIU held its 22nd annual AIU festival. 🎉 The theme for this year was “VIVID ～Light Up Yourself～”, a theme which represents the hope that each student will bring their own charm and create an energetic and colorful festival.
In accordance with the overarching theme of this year’s festival to bring charm and energy to a colorful festival, a variety of events and performances were held throughout campus such as a photo exhibit, color guard and hula dance spectacles,💃 a number of musical performances, 🎶 and demonstration of Japanese traditions and arts including Kanto, kimono-wearing,👘 and Japanese traditional dance.🪭
Exciting and vibrant events such as the AIU Festival are made possible thanks to the international nature of our campus and the close collaboration between AIU students and international students alike. 🌎 We hope many more international students will continue to come to AIU and take part in the AIU Festival in the future as well! ✨
📸Photo Credit: ©︎AIU Festival Committee Tech 2025

🎓ALUMNI VOICES🌎
What do you want to experience at AIU? Who do you want to become through study abroad?🛫

In this series, we would like to introduce the articles written by former AIU exchange students to share their most memorable experiences, what they learned and how the AIU experience has helped them get to where they are now, and what they would like to tell international students who are thinking of studying at AIU. 🙋🏻‍♀️

The purposes and goals of studying abroad are different for everyone, but we hope that the stories of these alumni will encourage you to consider choosing AIU as your destination.🙌

Here is a message from Ethan Hoggan. He was an exchange student who studied at AIU in the Fall 2019 for one year.🍂
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/88308/

Alumni Voices: From Akita to the World: A Career Inspired by Akita International University - by Ethan Hoggan, University of Utah, U.S.A. | Akita International University What do you want to experience at AIU? Who do you want to become through study abroad?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In this series, we would like to

Hector Medina Borrego, University of Jaen, Spain is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.
https://web.aiu.ac.jp/en/aiutopics/89337/

Student Voice: My experience in Akita, my first fall away from home - Hector Medina Borrego, University of Jaen, Spain | Akita International University Hector Medina Borrego, University of Jaen, Spain is participating in our exchange program for Fall 2025. We would like to introduce his experience at AIU.