The ninth annual Graduation Thesis Research Presentation for seniors was held at our university on Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15, 2009. A total of 89 students made 6 minute Power Point presentations of their research findings followed by a 4 minute period for questions. At the end of their junior year, each student in our university is affiliated with an academic division and appointed a thesis advisor from the faculty to oversee their research project. During their senior year of study, students are required to do research and write a graduation thesis. After choosing a topic of research in consultation with their advisor, students are given a number of texts to read to acquire a general knowledge of the special field. As part of the research process, students are required to study original texts in English and seminars are conducted with oral reports and discussions of these readings in their affiliated division. Finally, students are required to make presentations of their research at the annual graduation thesis presentation where their research is evaluated by the assembled faculty.

The presentations are held in the Auditorium.	During a presentation.
During a presentation.	A question from the audience.

Saturday, October 31, 2009, 12:30 - 17:00
B-Con Plaza, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan

On Saturday, October 31, 2009, the Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences Eleventh International Nursing Forum was held at B-Con Plaza in Beppu City, Oita. The theme of the forum was “Terminally Ill Patient Care”.

The speakers were Ian Maddocks, MD, FRACP, FAFPHM, DTM&H, Professor Emeritus, Flinders Clinical Effectiveness, Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University School of Medicine, Australia; Hyun Sook Kim, PhD, RN, Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Elderly Health & Welfare, Chungju National University, Korea; and Keiko Tamura, RN, PhD, OCNS, Hospice Nursing Director and Cancer Nurse, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Japan. Dr. Maddocks spoke on the topic “Palliative Care for Terminally Ill Patients”, Dr. Kim on the topic “Issues and Trends in Hospice Care”, and Dr. Tamura on the topic “Caring that Supports those Near the End of Life”.

A total of 381 people attended the Forum. The large audience was made up of faculty and students from our university and members of the nursing and medical professions from Oita and other places in Kyushu and Honshu. Thanks to the efforts of our three guest speakers the forum was a great success.

The 11^th International Nursing Forum Program(pdf)

Our University President, Dr. Kusama, opens the Forum.	Dr. Maddock’s lecture.
Dr. Kim’s lecture.	Dr. Tamura’s lecture.
The venue.	The General Discussion.

The University Entrance Ceremony for the 2009-2010 academic year was held on Tuesday, April 7, from 10:00 in the morning. A total of 82 undergraduate students, 5 special junior year enrollees, 14 Master’s program students and 1 Doctoral program student entered our university on this day. The President of our university, Dr. Tomoko Kusama, certified the admission of the new undergraduate and graduate students, and then delivered an address to the assembled audience. The Governor of Oita Prefecture and the Speaker of the Prefectural Assembly also delivered addresses during the ceremony.

The eighth Graduation Ceremony was held at our university on March 18, 2009, from 10:00 in the morning. A total of 80 undergraduate students and two Master’s degree students received diplomas during the ceremony from Dr. Kusama, our university president.

The Ninth International NP Meeting was held at our university on Monday, March 16, from 13:30 to 17:00. Prof. Toshiko Oshita of the Adult and Gerontological of our university, Dr. Eunyoung Eunice Suh of the Seoul National University College of Nursing, and Dr. Jill Howie Esquivel of the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing gave presentations at the meeting. The theme of the meeting was "Towards the Start of NP In-School-Training and Clinical Practice". 

Prof. Oshita	Dr. Suh
Dr. Howie Esquivel	During the meeting
The General discussion	Participants at the meeting