On November 9, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences hosted the O-NECUS Program Autumn Seminar -Student Recruitment 2023 for master’s students via Zoom, with a total of 105 participants including 82 students and 23 faculty and staff from the participating universities.

Each year, the graduate school accepts short-term exchange students to its master’s course from the O-NECUS program partner universities and encourages them to advance to the doctoral course at Okayama University. The online seminar was held again this year in cooperation with four universities: Harbin Medical University, Jilin University, China Medical University, and Dalian Medical University.

After broadcasting the promotional video introducing the O-NECUS program, Professor OOHASHI Toshitaka, the chairperson of master’s course, explained the program in more depth. Following that, Professor KAWAGUCHI Ayano introduced the medical laboratory including its research on Human Morphology. Professor OKAMURA Hirohiko presented the dental laboratory including its research on Oral Morphology. Professor NAGATSUKA Hitoshi presented the dental laboratory including its research on Oral Pathology and Medicine. Students who completed the O-NECUS program (Post O-NECUS for short) gave presentations on their experiences in the O-NECUS program, Post O-NECUS, laboratory life, COVID-19 prevention measures, and life in Okayama.
In the Q&A session, students participated actively with their questions about research fields suit their desired specialties as well as language requirements, financial aids, and becoming doctoral students at Okayama University.

It clearly shows that the participants' interests in this program are growing as evidenced by active questioning and participating, even though the seminar was held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the near future, Okayama University will host related seminars to recruit outstanding students and activate research exchange.

■About the O-NECUS Program
The O-NECUS Program was established in 2006 through the efforts of Okayama University and five universities in northeastern China upon the conclusion of an international exchange agreement. It was first implemented in 2007 as part of a university-wide graduate education program.

■Special Selection for International Students
　(Doctoral Course for Post‐O‐NECUS Program Students)
Special Selection for Post-O-NECUS (Okayama University-North East China Universities platform, ‘Graduate’ Student Exchange Program) Program Students is arranged for the students who have joined ONECUS program. This system aims to enhance the international competitiveness of graduate education at the Okayama University by accepting and nurturing outstanding students.