Aoyama Gakuin University International Center welcomed Ms. Laura Romero Bernal, an administrative staff member from Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), one of AGU’s partner universities in Spain, for a five-day staff training program held from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, 2026.

　Ms. Bernal is engaged in supporting international students in their daily lives and handling housing-related matters at UCAM. The program was designed to introduce AGU’s approaches to supporting student life, with a particular focus on services and initiatives for international students.

　On the first day, Ms. Bernal received an overview of AGU’s international exchange operations and toured campus facilities. During the program, she also visited the International Commons and the Chat Room, learned about the operation of AGU’s exchange program, and exchanged views with AGU students and exchange students from Spain. These opportunities offered valuable insight into the study abroad program and campus environment from the students’ perspective.

　On the third day, Ms. Bernal visited the Sagamihara Campus, where she toured laboratories in the College of Science and Engineering and student dormitories. Through conversations with students on campus, she gained a deeper understanding of AGU’s educational and research environment as well as its initiatives regarding student support.

　During her stay, Ms. Bernal also participated in “Global Village,” an international exchange event held on campus. Together with exchange students, she helped operate a booth and was able to observe firsthand how students engage in cross-cultural exchange activities.

　On the final day, she met with an English-speaking counselor and exchanged information on practical approaches to supporting and responding to the needs of international students.

　Throughout the training program, participants discussed a wide range of topics related to student support, including mental health services and systems for assisting international students. As UCAM continues to welcome a growing number of international students, Ms. Bernal shared the university’s current efforts to provide support with a limited number of staff members, as well as the importance of collaboration with specialists. She also expressed strong interest in AGU’s initiatives, including efforts to encourage students to make use of counseling services.

　The program also provided opportunities for both universities to exchange information on broader aspects of student life, including the operation of student dormitories, campus facilities, and extracurricular activities. Through these discussions, AGU and UCAM were able to share their respective strengths, characteristics, and challenges.

　This visit, made possible through international exchange opportunities such as NAFSA (Association of International Educators), served as a meaningful opportunity to further deepen practical-level collaboration through staff exchange.

　AGU will continue to promote staff exchanges with partner universities around the world, strengthen international collaboration, and enhance its student support and international exchange initiatives.

Related Links

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

• Campus International Exchange
• College of Science and Engineering
• Student Dormitories
• NAFSA: Association of international Educators