On Wednesday, July 24, the study abroad debriefing meeting for participating students from Keio’s affiliated schools in the 2018 academic year was held at the East Research Building on Mita Campus.
In 2013, Keio established the "University-Endorsed Study Abroad Program for Keio University Affiliated Schools" in which students are selected from among its five affiliated senior high schools, irrespective of school affiliation, to study abroad for about one year at a prestigious boarding school in the US or UK. Scholarships are awarded to cover tuition and other fees at the host school. Furthermore, students can generally advance or graduate without having to repeat a year of school after returning to Japan.
The debriefing meeting opened with an address from Vice-President Masahito Omori, followed by presentations by the eight students who participated in the study abroad program. Additionally, a discussion among the students was held in English for the first time this year. There was a lively exchange of opinions on study and life at the host schools, and it could be keenly felt how much these students had grown during their time abroad. Moreover, it was a valuable opportunity to hear what study abroad life is like for students planning to study abroad in the future who were also present at the event.
From the 2019 academic year, in addition to senior high school students, the study abroad program will also be offered to junior high school students. This year, eight students have been selected to study abroad, and of these, two are junior high school study abroad students who will be studying at junior boarding schools in the UK and US.
The high-quality education the study abroad students received while studying with some of the brightest students from around the world greatly broadened their perspectives, and it is hoped that these students will create a ripple effect of inspiration among their classmates at their home institutions through stories of their study abroad experiences.
Study abroad students in the 2018 academic year were as follows:
<Third-year program (US)>
Phillips Academy Andover: One student from Keio Girls Senior High School
Phillips Exeter Academy: One student from Keio Girls Senior High School
<Second-year program (US)>
Deerfield Academy: One student from Keio Girls Senior High School
The Taft School: One student from Keio Senior High School
The Hotchkiss School: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School
<Second-year program (UK)>
Shrewsbury School: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School
Winchester College: One student from Keio Shiki Senior High School
Winchester College: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School
References
・Press Release (June 27, 2016): Keio to Send High School Students to two of America’s Prestigious Boarding Schools, Phillips Exeter Academy and Philips Academy Andover, under a Double Diploma Program
・Keio High School Students Studying Abroad: Objectives and Outcomes (Article from the 2016 winter edition [No. 289] of Juku)