The Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Okayama University held its first international online program, the “Global Microbe Nexus (GMN) Program”, from November 5 to 19, with the aim of promoting international knowledge sharing and exchange in the fields of microbiology and immunology.

Academically, the program seeks to promote the global sharing of research techniques and knowledge in microbiology and immunology. In terms of international exchange, it aims to foster a global perspective among Japanese graduate students through equitable academic interaction with graduate students of diverse nationalities, including those from the Global South, such as India, and to build international research networks.

The inaugural program, “GMN1,” was attended by three master’s students from Sister Nivedita University, a partner institution under an inter-university agreement; two Japanese students from Okayama University (one undergraduate and one graduate student); three international graduate students; three faculty and staff members; and one expert from Peru. As the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ first fully online program (*), GMN1 was conducted in a highly international and diverse environment.

The main sessions of the GMN Program were held three times, as outlined below.

The first session, titled “Global Virus Landscape,” featured presentations by participants from each country on major viral infectious diseases and research topics of interest in their respective regions. Through these presentations, participants deepened their understanding of the characteristics of viral infections worldwide and identified common global challenges.

The second session, a “Journal Club,” involved participants introducing and discussing academic papers, covering a wide range of topics from virus therapies using CRISPR/Cas systems to the control of intestinal infectious diseases in India.

The third session, a “Technical Seminar,” provided explanations of research equipment and techniques used in Japanese laboratories, such as real-time PCR and fluorescence staining observation, thereby enhancing participants’ technical understanding.

By designing the program around participant-led presentations from each country, the GMN Program incorporated a wide range of interactive elements and promoted multidirectional academic exchange.

The program is offered as a doctoral-level course within the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Certificates of completion are awarded to participants from partner institutions, strongly supporting their future advancement to the Graduate School.

In addition, the program is supported by the Okayama University President and Executive Board Strategic Budget under the “Project for Strengthening Global Engagement,” and is also implemented as part of a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) initiative, “Support Program for Creating Social Impact through the Internationalization of Universities.”

Okayama University will continue to actively promote educational and research exchanges with the Global South.

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Please note that this content was translated by a machine and may contain errors.