Okayama University conducted an international virtual exchange program, “Peace Through Virtual Exchange,” with Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine) on May 21 and June 4, 2025.

The program was led by Senior Assistant Professor Susan MEIKI and Associate Professor Tim CLEMINSON of the Faculty of General and Global Studies Division, and is positioned as an initiative related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — Goal 4.7 “Education for Sustainable Development” and Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.”

A total of 20 students from the School of Letters, School of Economics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Discovery Program for Global Learners participated.
Under the theme “Reducing Confrontational Language and Promoting Peacebuilding,” students explored how the language used in news reporting can influence conflict and bias.
They worked collaboratively in international mixed teams to rewrite confrontational news articles into more neutral expressions.

During the second workshop on June 4, some Ukrainian students were forced to join from air-raid shelters due to ongoing attacks, while a student from Myanmar shared perspectives on the media situation in their home country.
These real experiences underscored the urgency of peace education and fostered a deeper sense of empathy and understanding across borders.

Going forward, students from the State University of Maringá (Brazil) are also expected to participate, further expanding the international scope of this program.

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