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On July 30, Keio University held a study abroad debriefing for its affiliated schools about the 2024 academic year study abroad program. The meeting was held at the East Hall on Mita Campus. This program was established in 2013 under the Keio University Education Leadership Project. Students are selected from among Keio University’s affiliated schools in Japan to study abroad for approximately one year at prestigious boarding schools in the United States or United Kingdom. The Keio University Ishii-Ishibashi Fund sponsors scholarships to cover tuition and other expenses for students while they are studying abroad.

The debriefing session began with opening remarks by Vice-President Keita Yamauchi. This was followed by nine students who studied abroad through the program giving presentations to an audience that included their family members, staff from Keio’s affiliated schools, and students planning to study abroad starting this fall in the 2025 academic year.

Each of the nine students shared enthusiastically about their study abroad experience. Though they shared memories of how they were initially inundated with culture shock, they soon made irreplaceable friends from all over the world in the dorms and were able to grow through the experience. Many also spoke about their dedication to their studies and volunteer activities, with some even receiving awards in recognition of their efforts. They shared what it was like to try sports they had never played in Japan, and one individual even organized online cultural exchanges that connected her host family with her classmates back home. The audience was impressed by the remarkable skill and initiative students showed while integrating into their new environments.

The study abroad students for the 2024 academic year were as follows:
Senior high school third-year program (United States)

Phillips Academy Andover: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School
Senior high school second-year program (United States)

The Governor’s Academy: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School
Senior high school second-year program (United Kingdom)

Shrewsbury School: One student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School

Winchester College: One student from Keio Senior High School
Junior high school second-year program (United States)

Fay School: One student from Keio Futsubu Junior High School and one student from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Junior High School
Junior high school second-year program (United Kingdom)

Shrewsbury School: One student from Keio Chutobu Junior High School
Elementary school fifth-year program (United Kingdom)

Dragon School: One student from Keio Yochisha Elementary School and one student from Keio Yokohama Elementary School

Reference: Keio University Affiliated Schools Study Abroad Program (Japanese Website)