Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture, has opened an international dormitory, "NAIST Jūshinryō" (Nakayama-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture), with the provision of employee dormitories from Iida Co., Ltd. (Yao City, Osaka Prefecture), a wholesaler of alcoholic beverages and food products. It will be used to accommodate researchers and interns from overseas, including Indonesia.
NAIST Shushinryo is a facility that Iida used as employee housing until February. At the opening ceremony held at NAIST Shushinryo, President Kazuhiro Shiozaki of Nara Institute of Science and Technology and Iida's auditor Eri Iida were among those in attendance, and Iida was presented with a letter of appreciation from Nara Institute of Science and Technology.
The Iida Group, led by Mr. Iida, has continued to support international students since its inception when the previous chairman accepted students from Indonesia, where the raw materials for Nara pickles were cultivated.
Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) is working to strategically recruit and nurture outstanding students and young researchers from partner institutions in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, and to promote the international circulation of research talent. As a result, the number of interns and young researchers it accepts is expanding. Consequently, the university is urgently working to create a safe living environment for them, and upon learning of this, Iida offered to provide company dormitories.
The students who move in will deepen their understanding of Japan by communicating with the Japanese residents and other staff while living together. An international student who participated in the opening ceremony expressed his gratitude, saying, "NAIST Shūshin Dormitory will be a place where we can live with peace of mind."
