Waseda University, Tokyo, is running a six-part online course in English, titled "Tsunamis and Storm Surges: Introduction to Coastal Disasters," offered free of charge through March 2016. The course is aimed at transmitting to the world the results of the university's advanced research in this area for learners of all ages, from high school and university students to professional researchers.

Photo1: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102172/201603018433/_prw_OI1fl_qZtYX6vd.JPG

Photo2: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M102172/201603018433/_prw_OI2fl_5XBI55j5.png

In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake that ravaged an entire region on March 11, 2011, Waseda University has focused on rehabilitation of the disaster-stricken areas and nationwide disaster research as key strategic efforts.  

In the meantime, a research project led by Prof. Tomoya Shibayama, of Waseda's Faculty of Science and Engineering, was adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as one of its official programs. Waseda has since set up a research center on campus bringing together disaster researchers and students from around the world, including Indonesia, Canada, Britain, Iran, Thailand, Tanzania, Bhutan, Chile, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who are now studying complex disasters caused by tsunamis, high tides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  

In the six-part course, Prof. Shibayama explains detailed findings from his many years of fieldwork, including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines. In addition to scientific analysis, Prof. Shibayama also discusses engineering responses to disasters as well as the latest coastal disaster studies.

About Waseda University

Waseda University is a top institution of higher education based in central Tokyo, with 50,000 students in 13 undergraduate and 21 postgraduate schools. Founded in 1882 with a mission to build leaders, it has produced seven prime ministers and countless other leaders in government, business, journalism, science, literature and the arts. Waseda is Japan's most global campus, with over 5000 international students from 100 countries, and over 700 partnerships with prominent institutions in 77 countries.

With 50 all-English degree programs, students can learn Japanese in parallel to their major studies, while enjoying the many benefits of living in Tokyo, one of the greatest global cities, voted the world's safest, cleanest, most hospitable city, with the world's best public transport and also ranked in the world's top 3 cities for students.

For more information on the course, please visit our website:

https://www.edx.org/school/wasedax  

For information on Waseda University (Bahasa Indonesia), please visit our website:

http://www.waseda.jp/inst/whywaseda/id/