Day 1

The 3rd JIGE International Forum was held on January 23 and 24 at Chiba University’s Sumida Campus in Tokyo, bringing together faculty members and international education practitioners to exchange ideas on global learning and internationalization in higher education.

The forum opened with welcome remarks by Professor Hiroaki Ozawa (Chiba University), Professor Keiko Ikeda (Kansai University), and Akigo Hamaya (MEXT). This was followed by a Sharing Session featuring faculty members from the JIGE universities, who presented their current initiatives and institutional efforts related to international education.

Keynote speeches were then delivered by Dr. Jos Beelen and Dr. Reinout Klamer from The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands). Their presentation, titled The role of COIL in the future of internationalisation at home: European & Netherlands perspective, offered insightful perspectives on internationalization on campus in Europe and the role of COIL, highlighting practical approaches and emerging trends in the European context.
In the afternoon, participants took part in group discussions focused on COIL and Blended Mobility. Through collaborative dialogue and presentations, participants explored challenges, best practices, and future possibilities for international learning design.

The first day concluded with a special martial arts demonstration by Professor Alexander Bennett (Kansai University) and Professor Ryosuke Ohniwa (University of Tsukuba). Many participants expressed strong interest and enthusiasm at experiencing an authentic demonstration of traditional budo for the first time.

 

Day 2

The second day began with an entrepreneurship workshop led by Professor Daisuke Katagiri (Chiba University). Working in groups, participants developed entrepreneurship programs incorporating Blended Mobility elements and presented their proposals. The session generated a wide range of creative ideas and also served as a valuable opportunity for networking and relationship building among participants.

The highlight of the second day was the keynote address by Alfonso Díaz Segura (CEU Cardenal Herrera University), titled Comprehensive Internationalization from Spain: Fighting Against Windmills Like Don Quijote. The lecture provided an in-depth look at the current state of internationalization in Europe, including Spain, and introduced strategies being implemented to address ongoing challenges.

Following the keynote address, a panel discussion brought together international and Japanese perspectives to explore how higher education must redesign learning in the age of AI, COIL, and intercultural collaboration. Moderated by Professor Keiko Ikeda, the discussion focused on moving beyond traditional notions of exchange and mobility toward integrated learning design, the role of technology and AI as enablers, and the evolving demands of Education 5.0.

 
Following the panel discussion, two parallel workshops were held, providing participants with opportunities for more in-depth and practice-oriented learning. The workshop “Working with Dilemmas Related to the Future of Work: The Potential of COIL and Transformative Competencies,” was led by Dr. Jos Beelen and Reinout Klamer from The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Through interactive activities, participants examined real-world dilemmas related to the future of work and discussed how COIL can support the development of transformative competencies such as critical thinking, ethical awareness, and intercultural collaboration.

The workshop “How to Make the Best Use of JV-Campus Through Micro-Credentials” was led by Keizo Yoshida, Managing Director of the Deloitte Tohmatsu Group, and Makoto Yanagawa, Assistant Professor at the University of Tsukuba (JV-Campus). This session focused on practical approaches to utilizing JV-Campus and micro-credentials to promote flexible learning pathways and strengthen connections between higher education and societal and industry needs.

Through keynote lectures, interactive sessions, and cultural exchange, the 3rd JIGE International Forum offered a meaningful platform for advancing dialogue and collaboration in international higher education.