Kseniia Vasylenko is one of the five Ukrainian students that JICUF and ICU supported through the Japan-Ukraine University Pathways (JUUP) program, established in 2022 shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She was a university student in Kyiv studying Japanese, but after becoming a degree-seeking student at ICU, she chose to major in international relations. With graduation just around the corner, we asked her to share her experience at ICU. Congratulations, Kseniia!

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My time at International Christian University has been one of the most meaningful periods of my life. Studying International Relations at ICU allowed me to grow academically while also discovering more about myself and my future goals. One of the best moments of my time here was working on my senior thesis about the securitization of migration in Europe. This project allowed me to explore a topic that is both academically important and personally meaningful to me. Presenting my research and discussing it with professors and classmates made me realize how much I had learned during my years at ICU.

Another highlight of my experience was the international environment of the university. Being surrounded by students from many different countries created an atmosphere where conversations often went beyond the classroom. Living in the dormitory also played a big role in my university life. Some of my favorite memories are simple moments like late-night conversations, shared meals and events organized by the dorm community. These experiences made ICU feel like a home rather than just a place to study. Looking back, I feel very grateful for the many opportunities and experiences I was able to have at ICU, both inside and outside the classroom.

At the same time, my time at ICU also came with challenges. Balancing coursework, research and extracurricular activities was sometimes overwhelming. Writing my thesis was especially demanding and required a great deal of discipline and time management. However, overcoming these difficulties helped me grow more confident in my abilities and taught me how to handle complex tasks independently.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue my studies at the ICU Graduate School in Politics and International Studies. I hope to further develop my research on migration and security in Europe and eventually contribute to policy research and analysis in the field of international relations. ICU played an important role in shaping these goals by giving me both the academic foundation and the supportive environment that encouraged me to pursue them.