CPaCE News

PHOTO: CSULB student Eduardo Alburqueque sightseeing in Japan during the Tokyo Denki University International Workshop.

Last summer, three CSULB students packed their curiosity and coding skills for a weeklong international adventure in the capital of Japan. From July 28 to August 3, they joined peers at the second annual Tokyo Denki University (TDU) International Workshop, an immersive program featuring a drone piloting competition, Japanese language lessons, and other unique cultural experiences. Hosted on the vibrant campus of TDU in Tokyo, the workshop fostered hands-on learning and cultural immersion for 30 students from several CSU campuses as well as other U.S. universities and TDU.

“Having the opportunity to visit Japan through my school was incredible,” said Eduardo Alburqueque, a grad student in CSULB’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program. “I was able to put into practice what I’ve learned in my master’s program by attending a drone workshop, where I earned third place in the competition. It was also a great chance to practice my Japanese and deepen my understanding of the culture.”

The technical centerpiece of the workshop focused on Python coding, with participants programming drones to enable autonomous flight while completing a real-world engineering challenge. Eduardo’s team placed third out of twelve—a testament to his hard work and adaptability. Eduardo’s own global journey originally started in Peru, where he worked at IBM before pursuing higher education at The Beach.

“Our goal is to nurture global engineers capable of thriving in international business and technology sectors,” said Dr. Makoto Shishido, who led the workshop as Director of the International Center and Professor of English and Educational Technology at TDU.

“I have always had a strong interest in incorporating technology into education, which has led me to explore the use of computers and digital tools for language learning,” said Dr. Shishido, whose research connects tech innovation with intercultural communication.

PHOTO (L-R): CSULB students Faraz Tima Akbari, Claudia Rawson, and Eduardo Alburqueque giving a presentation about their home campus at Tokyo Denki University.

The learning extended well beyond the competition for CSULB participants Claudia Rawson, a student assistant who works in the American Language Institute (ALI); and Faraz Tima Akbari, a senior majoring in Computer Science. In addition to Japanese language lessons, cultural activities, and sightseeing trips, the Partner University Fair gave students the opportunity to share different perspectives about campus life with counterparts from across the country—and across the Pacific.

The international collaboration between CSULB and TDU has been the result of dedicated relationship-building by the ALI and the Study Abroad @ The Beach (SA@B) program. TDU representatives had previously visited CSULB to meet with faculty and administrators, collaborating on several programs in an expanding partnership between the two universities. As a result, the three students who were selected for the 2024 TDU workshop were able to attend at no cost, creating an exceptional opportunity made possible through cross-campus coordination and international goodwill.

With plans already in motion for next year’s workshop—set for July 27 to August 2, 2025— the future looks bright for CSULB’s continuing engagement with its partner in Japan. The TDU International Workshop 2025 will retain its core focus on drone technology while broadening into new topics to offer transformative international learning experiences to even more students—empowering them to work together across borders.

Learn more about the American Language Institute, Study Abroad @ The Beach, and the Master of Science in Information Systems program at CSULB.