From July 16 to August 27 2026, 20 overseas students participated as Special Auditors in the 2026 International Summer Program (ISP) organized by the Graduate School of Science (GSS), The University of Osaka.
Participants: 20 students (16 undergraduate and 4 graduate students) from overseas universities including partner institutions of The University of Osaka.

The ISP at the GSS is an intensive research internship for overseas students majoring in the natural sciences and related scientific fields, launched in AY2018. The ISP offers students an opportunity to experience research-centered academic life at the GSS, either by joining a research group or by participating in seminars under the guidance of a faculty member. Thematic studies are conducted under close supervision of host professors through experiments, discussions, and group work with the team members at the GSS. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ISP was cancelled in AY2020, and held online in AY2021 and AY2022. We resumed the ISP in person from AY2023; this year was the eighth time the ISP was held (sixth time as a face-to-face event).

Each ISP student received direct supervision from a faculty member(s) of the GSS and conducted cutting-edge research for approximately 6 weeks. In addition to research activities, the ISP students joined Japanese language café sessions organized by Japanese students of the “Science Buddy(*)” to deepen mutual friendships. The ISP students also participated in an excursion bound for Lake Biwa in Shiga to visit Lake Biwa Museum, Omi Jingu Shrine, and Lake Biwa cruise, and a Student Social Event to get to know more ISP fellow students and current international students in the GSS. In a concluding event, the ISP students presented their research progress at the Nambu Yoichiro Hall, and received an ISP certificate, bringing the ISP to a successful conclusion.

We hope that the ISP students will serve as bridges between the GSS and their home institutions, either as regular international students or as international collaborative research partners with the GSS. In addition, we hope that the international outlook of our current Japanese students in the GSS involved as supporters of the 2026 ISP will be bolstered, fostering their future research activities abroad.

<Program Contents and Schedule of 2026 ISP>

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July 15
Dormitory Check-in

July 16
Morning: Orientation 1 at Nambu Yoichiro Hall
Afternoon: Orientation 2 with Science Buddy (*), Toyonaka Campus Tour, Research Group Check-in (meet the supervisor)

July 17
Research activities began in earnest

July 18
Excursion to Lake Biwa in Shiga (Lake Biwa Museum, Omi Jingu Shrine, Lake Biwa Cruise, etc.)

July 21 to 31 (two days in total for each student)
Japanese language café offered by current Japanese students of “Science Buddy” (Students were divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses)

July 24
Student Social Event held at International Exchange Salon (D201) of Science Building

August 26
Final Presentation and Closing Ceremony at Nambu Yoichiro Hall
Farewell Party at Cafeteria La Forêt

August 28
Dormitory Check-out

For more information
Past articles (2025 ISP, 2024 ISP, 2023 ISP)
Click here for more details about the ISP

(*) Science Buddy is a student group which aims to enhance international communication and is composed of Japanese and International students in the Graduate School and School of Science.