2012.01.17
January 17, 2012
Over 100 high school students from India, visiting Japan under the JENESYS Programme (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths), came to SFC. The JENESYS Programme is a project promoted by the Japanese government with the aim of providing a solid foundation for "strong solidarity in Asia" through large-scale youth exchanges. It has been implementing exchange programs for five years since 2007 to promote mutual understanding and friendly relations. Under this program, approximately 6,000 young people are invited to Japan each year. On this occasion, outstanding high school students selected from all over India came to Japan for nine days from November 28 to December 6, 2011, and visited SFC for two of those days.
The high school students arrived at SFC for the first time on the morning of November 29, amidst beautiful autumn leaves and a warm welcome from university students. As the high school students were scheduled to split into six groups the following day to visit various locations in Tokyo, Aichi, Hyogo, Kochi, Miyazaki, and Okinawa, Associate Professor Yoko Hasebe of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies first gave a presentation on the characteristics of Japanese communication and useful expressions to help them communicate smoothly with the Japanese people they would meet. Following Associate Professor Hasebe's lead, the high school students diligently practiced useful everyday expressions together, such as "That would be a great help" and "Please take me there."
Next, SFC students assigned to each group gave fun presentations, including quizzes, on the attractions of their respective regions, such as geography, famous places, and local specialties. The Indian high school students seemed excited, their anticipation for the places they were about to visit growing as they saw unfamiliar scenery and food introduced through beautiful slides prepared by the SFC students for the occasion.
After splitting into groups the next day and experiencing high school visits, Japanese cultural activities, tours, and homestays in various regions, deepening their mutual understanding, friendship, and trust through direct interaction with Japanese youth and local people, the Indian high school students returned to Tokyo and visited SFC again on December 5. First, they toured the campus guided by SFC students who came to meet their bus upon arrival. Next, they were welcomed by Dean Jiro Kokuryo of the Faculty of Policy Management. Unlike their nervous demeanor during their first visit to SFC, the high school students appeared full of confidence and answered Dean Kokuryo's questions with assurance.
Next, Professor Tatsuya Hagino of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies introduced the GIGA (Global Information and Communication Technology and Governance Academic) Program, which was established in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in September 2011 and allows students to take entrance exams, complete coursework, and graduate entirely in English. Following this, two SFC students, including an international student from the program, shared their own student life experiences. Furthermore, Professor David Friedman of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies made a surprise appearance and spoke warmly to the high school students.
Finally, after a debriefing session on their program experiences, held in the presence of guests from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of India, the high school students left SFC, repeatedly and reluctantly saying goodbye to the SFC students who had accompanied them to the very end. Later, some high school students shared their impressions, saying, "The interaction with faculty and university students at SFC was so enjoyable that it made me want to study abroad at Keio University." Additionally, the university students involved in hosting also commented that they realized both the fun and the challenges of international exchange.
Posted by: International Group, Academic Affairs