The Faculty of Foreign Language Studies (FLS) has launched a Virtual International Collaborative Study (VICS) Program for their students who were not able to start their study abroad programs last summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic to help compensate for their cancelled programs. The Faculty of FLS also invited admitted exchange students and former exchange students to join the program so that FLS students could have a similar experience to study abroad through discussion, group work and presentation with international students. The Faculty of FLS also hopes that this program would be the chance for international students to reminisce their good and productive experience at SGU, re-connect with fellow exchange students and acquaint with those who will follow in their footsteps as exchange students in the spring 2021, as well as the Japanese students who are eager to make initial steps toward globalizing their college education.

The program will have 8 sessions via Zoom on 14 & 21 December, 12 & 18 January, 15, 18, 22, & 25 February at 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. (Japan Standard Time) and take the PBL (Problem Based Learning) format, asking participants to discuss various global issues identified in the United Nations’ SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), for instance. Ideally each group will consist of approximately equal number of Japanese and international students. The program is free of charge.   

We hope that the program will serve for FLS students and international students as an excellent opportunity to (re-)unite with Seinan community and brush up their intercultural communication skills.