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Connecting Japan to the World – Okayama University Hosts 2 Online Programs Promoting International Exchange the SDGs

October 13, 2020

The Institute of Global Human Resource Development recently held two online programs promoting the SDGs. In total, 8 Okayama University students participated in the programs, with 4 joining the program on 9-16 September and 4 joining on 21-25 September.

During the first program (9-16 September), 10 members of the NGO from the Philippines and 25 participants from Japan discussed various social and environmental issues in the Philippines, including poverty, education, waste, etc. in English and Japanese. Commenting on the experience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology first year student SUZUKI Ai said that, "I think it was very meaningful for us as young people to recognize current problems and discuss how we could act on them. I felt a sense of responsibility to become a role model for future generations.”

The second program (21-25 September) utilized a problem-based learning method, focusing on SDGs Goal 4, “Quality Education”. 4 participants from Tay Bac University in Vietnam and 6 participants from Fiji National University in Fiji joined the workshop, in which everyone shared obstacles hindering quality education in their respective countries and then discussed solutions from various perspectives. NOGUCHI Natsuki, a third-year student from the Global Discovery Program who facilitated group discussions, commented that, “I realized that my words and actions have the potential to impact the future of education in Japan. I want to actively promote the SDGs by taking responsibility in my everyday life.” She also spoke positively about future exchange opportunities, stating that, “I do not know much about Fiji or Vietnam. If I have the chance, I would love to visit them in the future and meet up with the people I met online today”.
 
The Global Human Resources Development Institute aims to continue creating various learning opportunities for students related to international exchange and the promotion of the SDGs.

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