On February 13, students participating in the CAMPUS Asia Joint Intensive Program will give presentations on the final product of their group work activities, a social innovation project proposal for common social issues across Asia and beyond.

Over the last several decades, the Asian region has been rapidly growing economically. On the other hand, it has faced a number of challenges recently. According to the United Nations, the Asia and Pacific is the region most prone to natural disasters in the world. For instance, earthquakes and tsunamis hit Japan’s northeast coast in 2011, but even before the disaster took place, the region had already been suffering from a long-term economic recession, deteriorating socioeconomic infrastructure, aging communities and the migration of the youth to urban areas. The people in the region had to recover from the disaster but also take innovative approaches to overcome the long-term socio-economic challenges to improve their communities. This program aims at providing participants with opportunities to learn the latest social innovation efforts. By discussing common issues found in Asia, including natural disasters, aging population and enlarging socio-economic gaps between the rural and the urban, the participants explore how to overcome these challenges and building better futures.

The program employs a set of highly interactive and participatory learning methods, including facilitated discussions and field visits to Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchi Town in Iwate Prefecture. It also aims at providing students with opportunities not only to explore diverse ways of approaches and attitudes towards solving social problems but also developing their skills in articulating and communicating their own ideas and thoughts with a diverse group of people with different backgrounds. As demonstrated in the post-disaster experiences in Iwate, problem solving efforts often come in tandem with conflict resolution efforts. The program therefore provides participants with opportunities to enhance their conflict resolution skills by engaging in highly-participatory group exercises such as theatre games as well.

We invite all interested journalists and media to attend the presentations.

About CAMPUS Asia

CAMPUS Asia is a groundbreaking program established between three of the leading schools in East Asia (Waseda University, Peking University, and Korea University) to cultivate awareness, passion and practical skills related to international conflict resolution and social innovation among the next generation of Asian leaders.

Event information

Date & Time: February 13, 2018 (Tues) 9:00 – 12:00

*Journalists and media are invited to ask questions, etc. after 13:00

Venue: Ono Auditorium, Building No.27, Waseda Campus, Waseda University

Title: Building a better future through social innovation

Language: English

Open to Waseda University students, faculty and staff

Organized by Waseda University, Co-sponsored by Peking University and Korea University

Event schedule

Opening speech by Naoyuki Umemori, Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics

Group presentations by students from Waseda, Peking, and Korea University

Q&A session

Closing speech by Shukuko Koyama, Assistant Professor, Center for International Education

Contact information

CAMPUS Asia Office, Faculty of Political Science and Economics

TEL: 03-3207-5617

E-mail: campusasia-office@list.waseda.jp