ITMA2015
On November 12-19, 2 students from the Leading Program joined the ITMA 2015 in Milan, Italy. ITMA is an established textile and garment machinery exhibition which is held once every 4 years and attracts more than 100,000 visitors. This year, the Leading Program had an exhibition booth.
The 2 students operated and managed the booth from setting up the day before until removing the booth on the final day. They flexibly responded even though the exhibit, which was sent from Japan for this show didn't arrive on time. Also they visited other booths actively and learned the current trends of textile machinery.
Student report by Mr. Tatsuya Ishikawa (1st-year Doctoral student)
1. Purpose of participation
To have a display booth at the biggest textile machinery exhibition in the world and promote the Leading Program and the research work we undertake. We aimed at finding international partnership universities from this opportunity. My purpose was supporting teachers, but also using my experience from studying in France to exchange ideas and promote our university to students from our partner universities, ENSAIT and ENSISA to recrut more international students from France. At the same time, I wanted to learn future trends of the textile and fiber industry through visiting other universities or company`s booths.
2. Issues identified as a result of participation
When I was supporting at the booth, I fully realized that I didn't have enough information about my university.
I should always keep myself open to information of our university's latest research. Also we should reconsider how we display the booth. I saw other university's booths had displayed their machines and products which student built. That attracted lots of visitors and made them want to come over. The main reason for joining this exhibition was promoting the Leading Program, but it would work better if we had such displays like other universities' as an eye-catcher, to get more attention from visitors.
3. Results of participation
I realized again that outside Japan, both universities and students are internationally active. Universities are active to find new international partnership universities, but also students are ambitiously visiting other university's booths in which they are considering getting their doctoral degree. I felt the textile and fiber industry is moving internationally from seeing companies are visiting booths to discuss international research collaboration. I also found future trends of the textile and fiber industry by visiting other university's or company's booths. It was a great opportunity to explain about the exchange program and research work of our university to students from ENSAIT and ENSISA who are interested in studying in Japan.
4. How will you apply what you learned to your research?
I realized what kind of research was needed on my research subject (non-woven fabric) through hearing frank opinions at the exhibition. Also, I could feel that there will be more and more international research collaboration by seeing all of the textile and fiber industry, companies, universities and students that are internationally active. The current movement of the whole industry which I took from this exhibition will help with planning and designing my current and future research work.