RMIT English Worldwide, in conjunction with Japanese Language Studies at the School of Global Studies, was very pleased to welcome a group of Study Tour students from Muroran Institute of Technology (MIT) this month. RMIT's relationship with MIT began in 1997 and since then we have shared a very fruitful collaboration, with RMIT hosting 11 Study Tour groups and numerous individual ELICOS students, who often continue to Bachelor programs at the university. Similarly, MIT has hosted 26 Melbourne students learning Japanese, showing them the delights of life on Japan's northern-most island.

This year's highlights were a camping trip to Ocean Grove and the Grampians followed by a tour of the great Ocean Road. Japanese Language Studies staff and students accompanied the group and the opportunities for cultural exchange were very much enjoyed by all. Many cultural comparisons were also able to be made after the group experienced life with Australian host families, but all of them were very positive! In fact, the only criticism that the students had was that the two-week program was too short!!

Muroran Institute of Technology Students with their graduation certificates