Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University
The 5th Summer School: Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Innovation for Sustainable Development was held at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, Indonesia, from June 30 to July 4, 2025. The program brought together over 100 graduate students from Indonesia, as well as various African, South Asian, and Southeast Asian countries, to explore sustainability through lectures, fieldwork, and cultural exchange activities. Two students from the Ogawa Seminar, Ms. Noa Yokogawa (a doctoral student) and Mr. Rikuto Okawara (a master’s student), participated in the event.
In addition to attending lectures by international sustainability experts, participants engaged in hands-on mangrove planting in Surabaya and visited Ponorogo to experience traditional Indonesian culture. Throughout the week, participants formed international teams to create short videos on topics related to sustainable development. This collaborative project allowed students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds to share perspectives and work across disciplines.
Through the summer school, I had a valuable opportunity to engage directly with Indonesian graduate students, allowing me to deepen my understanding of the country’s pressing challenges in education and youth employment. As I conduct research on vocational education in Indonesia, this engagement provided important local perspectives that are difficult to gain through secondary sources alone. Furthermore, hearing their firsthand experiences not only enriched my academic insights but also helped me build a local network that will be essential for future fieldwork.
I am truly grateful to Universitas Airlangga, the supporting organizations, and the dedicated student volunteers for organizing such an enriching program. I would also like to express our sincere thanks to Professor Keiichi Ogawa for his continued support and encouragement, which made our participation possible.
Authored by Noa Yokogawa (Doctoral Student)
