Based on the general exchange contract between Mukogawa Women’s University (MWU) and Bahcesehir University (BAU), ten students and two professors from BAU’s Department of Architectural Design arrived in Japan on the evening of 25th June, Saturday. They received a warm welcome from the students and teachers of MWU’s Department of Architecture in the West Hall of Koshien Hall.

　 At the start, two students who were former members of Mukogawa High School’s chorus groups sang “Furusato (Hometown)” for the guests. Mukogawa High School’s high-level chorus groups are very famous and have received brilliant marks from the Nationwide Contest of Music sponsored by NHK, the National Choral Competition, and others prestigious organizations. Prof. Okazaki then gave a speech as representative of the Department of Architecture. Prof. Dr. Murat Dundar, Associate Dean of BAU's Department of Architectural Design, and Prof. Belinda Torus replied, followed by introductory speeches from each BAU student in Japanese. 　

　 Next, the three students from Turkey currently studying at MWU gave the group advice on living in Japan and asked MWU’s Japanese students to watch over and care for the new Turkish students. These three had previously undergone the ISCA programme in Japan when they were at BAU. Then, the students in the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st grade gave speeches in English and the students in the master course welcomed the exchange students in Turkish. At the end of the welcome party, Prof. Okazaki hand a student ID card (MIC) to each student.

　 This is the seventh year for the ICSA programme in Japan. The Turkish students will remain in Japan until 2nd August. They will each take design courses for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, specifically, "Design of Small Spaces Composed by Planes" in the 2nd grade, "Koshien Station Constructed with a Membrane Roof" in the 3rd grade, and "Waterfront Paradise: Design of City Landscape" in the 4th grade. They will join the 1st grade students in the Ikebana and Woodwork courses to study traditional Japanese culture and techniques. They will also visit the Funaya (traditional fishermen's houses) in Ine, Amanohashidate, and the Itsukushima Jinja shrine for fieldwork with the 4th grade students.