Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University
From August 2023 to June 2024, I participated in a double degree program in International Public Policy (IPP) program at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) at Fudan University, China. In the IPP program, students engage in compulsory classes on public policy and research methodology while also having the opportunity to explore a variety of elective courses from other programs. Attending lectures at Fudan University, one of the top universities in China, was profoundly stimulating and offered a rich experience that greatly expanded my knowledge and expertise.
A major feature of the double degree program is the requirement to write a master’s thesis while completing coursework over the academic year. At Fudan University, the master’s thesis undergoes four stages of rigorous evaluation: Proposal defense in late September, pre-defense in early March, blind review in mid-March, and final defense in late May, with the quality of the research being meticulously assessed at each stage. Completing all coursework and passing each thesis defense is challenging, but I received invaluable insights and feedback from the reviewing professors at every stage. I repeatedly revised my thesis based on these comments while studying abroad and prepared for the next defense. This repeated procedure significantly improved my research abilities when I look back on it.
One of the attractive points of studying abroad through the CAMPUS Asia program was the opportunity to interact with other CAMPUS Asia students from different universities. For example, at the CAMPUS Asia Plus Symposium, jointly organized by Kobe University, Fudan University, and Korea University, students had the opportunity to present their research progress and interact with participating professors and students through research. Additionally, during a study tour to Peking University, I had the enriching opportunity to engage with CAMPUS Asia students, fostering meaningful interactions and academic exchanges. The CAMPUS Asia students I engaged with were predominantly from Japan, China, and South Korea, and most had the enriching experience of studying abroad beyond their home countries. Therefore, we were able to quickly engage in discussions about each other’s cultures and deepen our exchanges.
Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Keiichi Ogawa for his great support and advice on my study abroad program and for guiding my research. I also sincerely appreciate Professor Zhang Ping for his significant advice on my thesis as my academic supervisor at Fudan University. In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Assistant Professor Masato Nakahara and Ms. Osaka of the CAMPUS Asia Office at Kobe University for providing such an excellent opportunity, as well as to all those involved in this wonderful CAMPUS Asia program.
Authored by Takumi Koike (Master Student)
