The UMAP-COIL Joint Program 2021 kicked off its first session on August 2nd, bringing together students from Kansai University and 45 other universities around the globe in an introductory session. 5 local high school students from Osaka prefecture were invited to attend, to experience what it would be like to participate in a university-level international program.  
This program is designed to give students opportunities to consider global citizenship with regard to key contemporary social issues in international settings, taking international and domestic perspectives. Students will examine a range of broad themes relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including topics on foreign policy, international affairs, trade and finance, and defense and security. In addition, we will explore more specific areas of contemporary interest, for example aspects of health and wellbeing, international approaches to education, and business innovation and development. The course is designed to be responsive to topical and immediate global concerns and will draw upon themes and materials as they develop. 

 

The kick-off session was led by Prof. Don Bysouth (Kansai University) and he gave an introduction of the United Nation's SDGs. During the lecture, the students were given opportunities to breakout in small groups to discuss how the COVID pandemic has been affecting their life as well as the attitude their country has toward the Olympics. In addition, Atlantic Pacific (https://www.atlanticpacific.org.uk/) was invited to the session to talk about their work in Japan and SDGs that are related to their missions. 

 

 

If you would like to know more about the program, please visit https://kuiige.wixsite.com/umapcoil/2021-online-program.