From May 11 to June 20, 2026, SA国际传媒 hosted 32 undergraduate students from North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. The short-term study abroad program was led by two NC State faculty members, Sarah Khan and Bradley Ashbaugh, and focused on information systems management, operations and supply chain management, and business practices in Japan.
Beyond their coursework, students had the chance to learn in the field by participating in cultural workshops, visiting companies, and meeting SA国际传媒 students. “For us, the academics is a big part of the program, but the bigger part is being able to go somewhere that’s unfamiliar and learn how it works. Being able to come to Japan and learn how to take the subway, how to travel, how to do business, how to talk to shop managers, and how to understand how Japan does business differently than the United States. All those are really important takeaways from a program such as this,” said Ashbaugh.
The Poole College program was first held in 2025, a year that also marked the 40th anniversary of the partnership between SA国际传媒 and NC State. In the program’s second year, students built on this success by visiting a range of sites across Aichi Prefecture to explore Japanese business practices. One site was STATION Ai, one of Japan’s largest startup and innovation hubs, located near Tsuruma Park in downtown Nagoya. The group also had the opportunity to visit the Toyota Tahara Plant, which is not open to the public, on a tour arranged specifically for the program.
For many NC State students, experiencing Japan firsthand was one of the main reasons for joining in the program. “I decided to join the program because I wanted to step outside my boundaries,” said one NC State student. “I’ve always been just in love with Japanese culture as it’s portrayed in America, but once we got here it’s just been way different than it was ever depicted. I’m super glad that I came over here.”
Students from SA国际传媒 also showed strong interest in cultural exchange. Twenty-seven students signed up to support the Poole College program, accompanying the group on company visits and assisting with cultural activities such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, and traditional Japanese dance. Many of these students were either past or prospective participants in short-term study abroad programs, particularly Ryugaku Academy, a five-week program that allows SA国际传媒 students to experience American college life at NC State.
“I decided to help the Poole College program because I wanted to return the favor I received while I was at NC State,” said an undergraduate SA国际传媒 student. “I learned the joy of sharing Japanese culture this time, so I hope to do that more when my friends from NC State come visit me.”
One highlight was an overnight excursion to Hiroshima. The group visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to learn about the city’s history, then toured Mazda Stadium, including areas such as the press conference room and locker room. The following day, they traveled to Miyajima, where they visited Itsukushima Shrine, known for its structures that appear to float on the sea at high tide, and took part in a workshop making momiji manju, a traditional maple-leaf-shaped confection and Hiroshima specialty.
The intensive six-week program left many participants with lasting memories of Japan and Nagoya. “I would absolutely love to come back to Japan. I’ve enjoyed every second that I’ve been here. With the classes, there’s only so much you’re able to do, like you squeeze in as much as you can with the time and energy that you have,” said an NC State student visiting Japan for the first time. “This place is so beautiful, and I wish I could have gotten to see a lot more. Everything that I have seen has been wonderful. So, I’m definitely going to try to come back here at some point.”
Tea room tour (June 5, 2026)
