Community Engagement Programs
* The following programs are provisional and subject to change.
* In 2020 and 2021, overseas programs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Global Studies
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U.S.A.
Try participating in fieldwork conducted entirely in English
You will participate in a program offered by Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, Illinois. You will be conducting fieldwork at organizations including community service organizations, senior residences, and animal welfare organizations. Factory tours at a Japanese corporation are also scheduled. During the stay, you will reside at a student dormitory inside the SIU campus and get to know students from all over the world, which is one of the program's key highlights. You may be expected to attend online classes.
Canada
Stay in the historical city of Toronto and conduct research activities through a global lens
One of the unique features of this program is that you will build your own itinerary and accordingly conduct onsite fieldwork and research. The key to an unforgettable experience is your pre-training before you travel, in which you will learn about Toronto, Canada, and develop a plan for the activities to conduct according to your theme. You will stay with your host family at Toronto, and visit various communities, participate in events, and carry out research activities while receiving support from institutions including our partner university.
Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
Understanding the realities and issues surrounding cultural diversity to contemplate on intercultural relations
You will spend some time with a Vietnamese community in Sakai City, where its population includes over 3,000 residents of Vietnamese descent. You will communicate using easy Japanese where necessary, and learn firsthand about the realities and issues of living as a cultural minority in order to think carefully about how we may build a better society that embraces internationalization.
Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Thinking about SDGs with high school students from outside of Kyoto
In an aim to think about the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with high school students who will be visiting Kyoto, you will organize and conduct a tour to study about the topic in English. The group will not only learn about the companies, organizations and communities that are taking action to align their activities with the SDGs agenda, but will also visit these locations and together think about the future.
Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture
Learning about the way traditional industries are maintained by local efforts and searching for solutions
Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, is known for its wealth of traditional arts and crafts. During their stay, you will learn firsthand the current circumstances surrounding the industry through observation, hands-on experiences, and mingling with craftspeople and the local community. You will then elucidate the challenges that face the future of the industry in an attempt to come up with potential solutions.
Malaysia
You will be attending lectures on relevant subjects and the Malay language (all in English) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). You will then conduct fieldwork in establishments such as the local social welfare facility. You will study about Malaysia's social structure as well as issues that are unique to the country.
Department of Global Tourism
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Vietnam
Get involved in the travel business, survey tourism needs, and conduct marketing
You will get a hands-on business experience, survey tourism needs, and conduct marketing in Ho Chi Minh City. You will participate in tours to investigate tourist spots and study the content of the tour. Then, in addition to experiencing what it is like to work in the travel industry at a local office (land operator) in Vietnam, you will conduct a survey to find solutions to your assignment.
Guam
Experience working at a travel company while helping to create regional tourism policy
You will be participating in a language program at the University of Guam (UOG), and while boosting your English language skills, you will also learn about the history and culture of Guam. Then, you will be working at a local hotel, and experience a variety of real business tasks, including those at a land operator's office within the hotel.
Kinosaki-Onsen, Hyogo Prefecture
Consider how to operate a tourism business at a site providing hospitality to foreigners
At Kinosaki Hot Spring in Hyogo Prefecture, a popular tourism spot for foreigners, by observing the incorporation of global perspectives and SDGs in the hospitality industry, you will achieve a deeper understanding on rebuilding communities and tourism management.
Shibu-Onsen, Yudanaka-Onsen, Nagano Prefecture
Observing inbound tourism through challenges from the frontline
You may have heard of "snow monkeys" via YouTube and other media, as the only monkeys in the world that enjoy taking a dip in natural hot springs. These monkeys can be spotted in Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen in Nagano Prefecture, where you will work in traditional ryokan inns. Since a large percentage of visitors are inbound tourists, the prefectural government has made efforts to upgrade the cities to become more tourist-friendly and provide services that target international guests. You will examine the current circumstances surrounding inbound tourism and its challenges.
Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture
You will get a hands-on experience at a local accommodation facility while simultaneously surveying the needs of tourists. You will then present your ideas that focus on reviving the community.
Mihama-Cho, Wakayama Prefecture
Initiating roots tourism through learning the history of immigration
The Mio village in Mihama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, is where many villagers immigrated to Canada in the mid-Meiji period, and hence its nickname, the "American Village". You will engage in research activities related to the preservation of the history of immigration.
Australia
Polishing your practical English skills and conducting field research at tourism attractions
You will take a practical English course offered by a university in Melbourne to improve your language skills. You will also visit famous tourist destinations in the suburbs and conduct field research in the city --the coffee capital of Australia --through the lens of food tourism.
Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
You will gain a deep understanding of the history of Kyoto's traditional industries such as kyō-yūzen (kimono dyeing technique). You will also develop an ability to effectively share Kyoto's unique culture through examining Kyoto's washoku (Japanese cuisine) and matsuri (festivals), two of the most popular interests among the city's inbound tourists.
Echizen-Cho, Fukui Prefecture
You will take on the challenge of conducting fieldwork for the purpose of invigorating a town called Echizen-cho, Fukui Prefecture. You will work with the locals on finding solutions for challenges such as growing organic rice and reviving the style of ceramics called Echizen-yaki, and propose ideas to create new values for the region.
Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture
Utilizing potential tourism resources to play a part in community development
You will gain experience in farming and landscape preservation efforts of farmlands, as well as work at eateries and accommodation facilities as a way to participate in fostering community-based tourism from a student perspective.
Application Timeline / Fees
Schedule
Participation fee (actual costs for AY 2019)
50,000 to 400,000 yen
- Fees vary depending on the program.
- Fees include transportation and accommodation.
- For students with foreign citizenships attending an international program, there will be an additional cost to fulfill the prerequisite of obtaining a visa.
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