Exchange Report

I would definitely recommend taking language courses before the exchange, as they make it much easier to communicate and connect with local people. Even some basic phrases can lead to meaningful interactions and help you feel more integrated into the local culture. Another recommendation is to set up a Suica card in your phone's Wallet app before arriving in Japan. This allows you to use public transportation without having to purchase tickets from the subway or JR ticket machines, which can be confusing for first-time users. For my exchange, I flew from Vienna to Taipei and then from Taipei to Nagoya (Chubu Centrair International Airport). I would recommend this route, as Chubu Centrair is a relatively relaxed airport with great connections to Nagoya Station, making the arrival day pretty smooth.

I stayed in the student residence called Hiroshi Hall, which is located directly on the NUCB campus. The biggest advantage of the dormitory is its proximity to the university, as it only takes a few minutes to walk to class. The rooms were nice and I felt very safe living there. Another benefit was the social aspect. Since I shared the apartment with two roommates, it was very easy to meet other exchange students and all of the people there were very open-minded and welcoming. However, the location was the biggest downside. While it is convenient for attending classes, it is not ideal for travelling or enjoying student life outside the university. The nearest 24/7 convenience store is around a 25-minute walk away and busses stop at around 9pm. This means that returning from Nagoya in the evening ßrequires either a one-hour walk or a pretty expensive Uber ride. Public transportation to the city also takes about one hour each way and costs around €5 per trip, making spontaneous trips into the city impractical. The shared facilities were generally good, although I found the kitchen too small for the number of students using it. Having only one kitchen for so many residents often made it crowded and not very clean. I didn't really use it at all, because of these facts. Looking back, I would probably choose an apartment in Nagoya if I were to do the exchange again. Since I only had classes twice a week, I spent most of my time away from campus and living in such a remote location limited my opportunities to explore the city and experience daily life in Japan. Although I really enjoyed the community in the dormitory and made many friends there, I believe I would have had a more interesting exchange experience if I had lived in a more central location.

The NUCB campus is very modern and well-maintained. The classrooms are spacious and the overall campus environment is pleasant and comfortable for studying. Compared to WU Vienna, I found the academic level of most courses to be significantly less demanding. Many of the topics covered were concepts I had already learned during my studies at WU. The courses followed the case study method, with class participation accounting for around 70% of the final grade. As a result, active participation was strongly encouraged. However, I often felt that discussions became repetitive, as many students contributed similar comments simply to earn participation points. In several of my courses, the exchange students participated much more actively than the regular GBBA students, and it seemed that many local students didn't care about the classes at all. A lot of people didn't contribute once throughout the semester, but they still get a base score of about 40 out of 70% just for sitting there. I don't really understand the system, because you basically can't fail if you just attend the classes. The quality of teaching varied between professors. I had lecturers who were very competent and created an enjoyable learning environment. However, I also experienced courses where the professor's English proficiency made it difficult to follow the lectures and participate in discussions. This also affected the overall learning experience. If I had to recommend one course, it would be Doing Business in Japan with Mr. Hakeem. He was a very competent, approachable and well-prepared lecturer who explained the topics clearly. I particularly enjoyed the course because it provided insights into the historical development of the Japanese economy and helped me better understand Japan's current business environment.

Japan's public transportation system was one of the highlights of my exchange experience. Trains and buses were consistently punctual, clean, quiet and very well organized, making it easy and comfortable to travel throughout the country. I also felt safe at all times, whether I was on public transportation, walking around cities during the day or returning home late at night. There are countless leisure activities available in Japan and I found many of them to be very affordable. During my exchange, I visited many restaurants and bars with friends, went to the cinema several times, visited theme parks, watched a baseball game and travelled extensively throughout Japan. These experiences allowed me to explore different regions of the country and learn more about Japanese culture beyond university life. NUCB also organized several extracurricular activities and workshops. Unfortunately, the workshops had very limited capacity and I was not able to secure a place in the ones I was interested in. The university also hosted a cultural event, but I found it somewhat disappointing. Although a buffet was provided, there was not enough food for the large number of participants, which resulted in people rushing to get something to eat and a chaos. The university offered good sports facilities, including a free gym and outdoor sports fields. I regularly used the running track and also played football with other exchange students, which was a great way to stay active and spend time with friends outside of class.

My exchange semester in Japan was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to meet amazing people from all over the world and create new friendships. One of the absolute highlights was watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji after hiking through the night. Travelling across Japan and experiencing its unique culture, landscapes and cities made this one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.