Hello everyone! So this post is probably going to be the must-read post for anyone who is interested in embarking in this CBEC program at Tokyo Technology, because I will be basically outlining my timetable for the duration of the program.
Of course, it is possible for the program to change each year so this is really just my own personal experience in 2019.
CBEC Program Period of 2019: 15 June to 3 August
Compulsory Mod 1 “Product Design and Development”:
Once every two Fridays, 9.00am to 4.30pm, total 4 lessons
Compulsory Mod 2 “Entrepreneurship Theory”:
Once every two Saturdays, 9.00am to 4.30pm, total 4 lessons
SUTD exchange students are attached to a lab in Tokyo Tech for the duration of their stay. In 2018, Leslie and Justinian were attached to Iijima lab. This year in 2019, Frank and I are attached to Senoo lab. Coincidentally, these two labs currently share the same physical office space.
A lab generally consists of a group of students who are studying in the range of Bachelors Year 3 to Masters Year 2. Including the two of us, there are now 19 students in Senoo lab. Each lab has a research interest, which is what brings the lab members together. In Senoo lab, their research interests center on the Theory of Organization, the Theory of Strategy, Knowledge Management and Information Systems. Every lab has a seminar once every week. In Senoo lab, the seminars this quarter consist of reading and discussing on books relating to the research interests, or examining case studies.
Every Friday in Senoo lab, we have a student-initiated activity where a selected student would choose a topic they are interested in and present it to everyone. Last Friday, Nakagawa-san brought us to EY because his parents work there, and yesterday, Kato-san gave us a very nice presentation about coffee where we got to try out coffee beans from different places as well coffee made from different methods (filter vs press). Senoo lab’s seminars also fall on Friday. Therefore, 3.00pm to 6.30pm is time reserved for the student-initiatied activity + lab seminar.
There is also supposed to be a Monday seminar in the evening but I’m not sure yet if we are required to attend that.
Now, whatever is mentioned above are compulsory events. We are also allowed to enroll for any course that is happening in Tokyo Tech currently. For now, I have only enrolled in a Japanese Language Course (Basic Level 2) that basically comprises of international students all around the world. Just for additional emphasis, this is completely optional and not necessary. For me, class times are Tuesdays 9am – 10.30am, and Wednesdays 1.20pm – 2.50pm, every week. You can definitely choose any other course that is more content heavy or something. I don’t think we can carry any credits over back to SUTD so it’s literally for your own learning and not for grades.
Now, TLDR:
Monday: Seminar in the evening but not sure if necessary to attend (yet)
Tuesday: Jap Language class 9am – 10.30am (optional)
Wednesday: Jap Language class 1.20pm – 2.50pm (optional)
Thursday: Nothing
Friday: Product Design and Development 9am – 4.30pm, once every two weeks
Senoo lab student-initiated activity + seminar 3pm – 6.30pm, every week
Saturday: Entrepreneurship Theory 9am – 4.30pm, once every two weeks
Sunday: Nothing
Yep, so I literally got 2 days every week to chill and go hang out around Tokyo. In fact, my Mondays to Wednesdays are pretty chill too.
I might be going further away from Tokyo (Like Osaka or Kyoto) on one of the weeks where we have a break from lab seminar + no class on Product Design Development and Entrepreneurship Theory, because the break would be pretty long.
Yep, that’s about it. I hope this was informative and gives a clear enough idea of what to expect on a day to day basis should you consider to enroll for the CBEC program in Tokyo Tech. Do leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions or if anything is not clear!
