Details of the Initiative
On Thursday, September 30, 2021, the Organization for International Collaboration participated in the Kakehashi Project, a program promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote understanding of Japan, and 16 students from seven schools of Meiji University conducted an online international exchange with 11 students from Miles College, which has a campus in Alabama, USA.
On the day, students made presentations and held discussions on the theme of “social innovation and entrepreneurship.” Meiji University presented examples of initiatives in Japan on five themes: sustainable electricity supply, gender issues, fair trade, the sharing economy, and food loss. Meanwhile, Miles College presented on one theme: economic inequality in the United States. The presentation by the students of Miles College, a private university established in the southern state of Alabama for the purpose of fostering human resources for the black community, pointed out that low-income people often have major mental problems. It was a great learning experience for the students of Meiji University. During the discussion, the groups deepened their friendship and engaged in lively discussions on the themes of the SDGs from the standpoint of both countries.
Through this program, we hope to become a “kakehashi” (bridge) for students and for both countries.
Related links: Meiji University International Collaboration and Study Abroad News List FY2021 （https://www.meiji.ac.jp/cip/info/2021/6t5h7p00003cvz76.html）
