AOYAMA GAKUIN
GLOBAL WEEK
Event Report
This is the university's first initiative to visualize activities, education, and research related to the international community and the SDGs *
Aoyama Gakuin has been continuously engaged in educational and research activities related to internationalization since its founding, and in 2021, we held our first initiative, "Aoyama Gakuin Global Week," on both the Aoyama and Sagamihara campuses and online. (Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021 ~ Saturday, October 9, 2021). With the goal of "a week in which each and every one of us enhances international understanding and aims for a fairer, more peaceful and more sustainable future for all people and society with a spirit of love and service," we will report on the efforts of AGGW, in which the academy from Kindergarten Building to universities, research institutes, and alumni participated as one.
Background and Significance of AOYAMA GAKUIN GLOBAL WEEK (AGGW)
Aoyama Vice Chancellor, University Religious Chief, College of Literature Professor, Academy Missionary
Paul Tsuchido Shew
After graduating from Earlham College with a major in Japanese Studies, he completed a master's degree at the Graduate School of Divinity at Harvard University and received his Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served as pastor at United Methodist Churches in Boston and Los Angeles, associate pastor at Omori Megumi Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan, and full-time lecturer at Seigakuin University's General Research Institute. He has held his current position since 2004. He is a member of the Japan Society for Christian Studies, the Japan Society for Christian Education, and the American Association for Religion.
In accordance with its founding principles and educational policies, Aoyama has traditionally been carrying out many activities that align with the aims of the 17 international goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015, even before these goals were proposed.
AGGW is a week to reaffirm our school's internationalization activities on campus and to disseminate them to the outside world. In particular, by "visualizing" various activities, it becomes easier to understand their value and significance. And people who have not been involved in activities before can actively participate in them, thinking "I'll give it a try too." The main pillar of this AGGW is to further promote activities related to SDGs and internationalization.
We have summarized the purpose of AGGW in one simple sentence: "A week for each individual to increase international understanding and work with love and service to work toward a fairer, more peaceful, and more sustainable future for all people and society." The first half of this sentence is taken from our educational policy, and the second half from the United Nations' explanation of the SDGs. Our school's history, which is rooted in Christian teachings and international education, is inseparable from the spirit of the SDGs. We believe that emphasizing both internationality and the SDGs is unique to Aoyama and is the most distinctive feature of this year's AGGW.
*SDGs: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are international goals aimed at creating a sustainable and better world by 2030, as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was unanimously adopted by member states at the United Nations Summit in September 2015 as the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) formulated in 2001. The SDGs are made up of 17 goals and 169 targets, and pledge to "leave no one behind" on the planet. The SDGs are universal goals that not only developing countries but developed countries themselves will work towards. (Quoted from the Japan SDGs Action Platform on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website)
A poster was created with the theme "The international spirit and SDG activities of each individual shine"
During the period, various groups held various events. The one that left the biggest impression on me was the "Prayer Wall" project, which collected prayer messages for the world by students. I went to see the Prayer Wall panels installed in University building 17 Aoyama Campus and Wesley Chapel on Sagamihara Campus almost every day, and I could see students writing new messages and reading other people's messages. Many of the students who participated said, "It was a good opportunity to think about the world. I'm very happy to have been given this opportunity," and "I'd like to participate again next year." It seems that volunteer groups and other student groups were able to meet many people through their participation in AGGW and further expand the scope of their activities.
A special attempt was also made for the university worship service. Usually, the theme of the worship service is different every time, but during AGGW, Chief the university's religious affairs held a service with a focus on the theme of "considering specific problems and issues related to the SDGs from the teachings of the Bible." This allowed students to actively think about ethics and various international issues.
A "Prayer Wall" was installed at the entrance to University building 17 Aoyama Campus so that everyone could share their prayers for the world.
In addition, the Research Institute and the Schoonmaker Center for Gender Studies at Aoyama Gakuin University also held talk events and forums, and participants from the Alumni Association, an organization for graduates, gave the following feedback: "It was a great opportunity for the entire Aoyama community to come together and share their learning and experiences."
Due to the impact of COVID-19, many events at this year's AGGW were held online and there were almost no international students participating, but from next time onwards, we plan to hold more face-to-face events and consider ways to actively involve international students. We will also set up an executive committee with students as the core members, and run the event with a student-led focus, to make it even more international.
The impact of COVID-19 is great, and various restrictions have been placed on international activities. However, it is precisely because of this that we need to further strengthen our activities toward internationalization and work on them. Just because we are in a pandemic does not mean we can stay inward. There are major global problems in the world, such as war, hunger, and climate change. The SDGs were put forward to solve these problems through cooperation between countries, and it is important to tackle the problems from a global perspective. I believe that it is Aoyama 's mission to nurture such human resources, and I hope to contribute even a little through AGGW.
I think that some students have given up on "looking outward" in various ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying abroad and international exchange are some of these. However, now that you have enrolled in our university, I hope that you will never give up on looking outward and taking action. Opportunities for doing so will surely open up in the future. It is precisely because of the current situation that we are in that we must continue to work together to promote the SDGs and internationalization.
The "SDGs Talk Event" at the 28th Aoyama Gakuin University Alumni Festival, held online on Thursday, September 23rd (national holiday), featured graduates of the university, Takayo Weiss, Yoshiaki Banno, Shigeo Araki, and Takayuki Seki. Vice Chancellor Shu acted as moderator.
Looking back as a university and the future as a university
Vice President (Public Relations and International Cooperation), Professor, School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Aoyama Gakuin University
Tatsuya Uchida
He completed his doctoral studies in Department of International Economics at the Graduate Graduate School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University Graduate School. He received his PhD School of International Politics, Economics and Communication from Aoyama Gakuin University. In 1995, he joined the School of International Politics and Economics at our university. He has served Chief Department of International Economics, Dean of School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, and Dean of the Graduate Graduate School of International Politics, Economics and Communication. He is a member of the Japanese Economic Association, the Regional Science Association International, and the Japan Regional Studies Association.
Although the new Corona caused various restrictions in holding AGGW, many students and organizations still actively participated in the event through online and other means. We were pleased to see a large number of participants from universities, with 19 projects taking part.
The first event organized by each institute was the "SDGs Forum" hosted by the Research Institute. Mr. Ryo Honda, an environmental cartoonist and Trustee of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), was invited to speak on the theme "What are the SDGs, really? and held an exchange of opinions between Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School and middle school students. In the Goucher Hall, the "Ryo Honda SDGs Humorous Illustration Exhibition" featured fun illustrations depicting the 17 goals of the SDGs, which were viewed by many visitors.
In addition, the "Aoyama Gakuin University Appendix Scoonmaker Memorial Gender Research Center," established this year, held an online event under the theme of "'Bloom in Asia': Now and in the Future. Now and in the Future" was the theme of the online event. The talk show was attended by 113 people and featured two graduates of the university, Chihiro Shinoda (representative of Kurkumer Botanicals) and Yuka Fujii (CEO of aMi, Inc.), as women who have started businesses in Asia and are still active on the global stage.
VIEW DETAILS →
The SDGs Forum was held with the theme "What are the SDGs, Really?"
The "Ryo Honda SDGs Humorous Illustration Exhibition" displays fun illustrations depicting the 17 goals of the SDGs.
Event Calendar | UniversityVIEW DETAILS →
Next, as an example of a regular course, in Associate Professor Hiromi Fujishige's seminar at School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Department of International Politics during AGGW, students are presenting and discussing in English on the theme of "SDGs and Global Governance". Also, Assistant Professor Yukako Tanaka (Sakabe) of the same department is teaching a class titled "Actions to Achieve the SDGs (English lecture)" as part of the "Fresher's Seminar" slot in the The Aoyama Standard course.
Student organizations also sponsored a number of events. School of International Politics, Economics and Communication SANDS, an accredited organization of the "SANDS", held a "Know! Let's Talk! Food Loss: Zero Hunger Talk Show -Aogaku Raw x Oisix x UN WFP" on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. The talk show invited Mr. Takashi Okutani, a specialist officer of food delivery company Oisix La Daichi K.K., and Ms. Naoko Omuro, an alumnus of the University of Tokyo and Manager of Private Partnerships for the UN WFP, to talk about hunger, food loss, and international career building. The event was also a great success with over 50 participants.
The Aoyama Gakuin University Certified SHANTISHANTI International Volunteer Association also held an online event called "Accessories Made from Upcycled Marine Plastic. The students themselves sold handmade accessories made from marine plastic on a dedicated website using Instagram, which became a hot topic on social networking sites. The event was planned to raise awareness of the marine plastic issue from a familiar perspective. The accessories were sold out, and all proceeds were donated to JEAN, a general incorporated association that addresses the issue of marine debris.
Another event that symbolizes the international nature of the university is the "Chat Room. During AGGW, the chat room held a session on the theme of SDGs, and about 100 people participated in the session online. About 100 people participated in the online session. In addition, we were able to deepen exchanges with University of Wollongong in Australia, one of our partner universities and famous for its university-wide commitment to the SDGs, in the "University of Wollongong session," in which students from the university participated as chat leaders from the region.
SANDS, an organization recognized by the School of School of International Politics, Economics and Communication will hold an online talk show titled "Let's Learn! Let's Talk! Food Loss and Zero Hunger Talk Show -Aogaku x Oisix x United Nations WFP."
Members of Aoyama Gakuin University-certified SHANTISHANTI International Volunteer Association make handmade accessories using marine plastic.
The AGGW circle has expanded to include alumni. In the "SDGs Talk Event" at the 28th Aoyama Gakuin University Alumni Festival, our alumni, Ms. Takayo Weiss of Air Canada, Mr. Yoshiaki Harino of Surf Beverage Corporation, Mr. Shigeo Araki of Sports Marketing Laboratory, Inc. and Mr. Takayuki Seki of Seven & i Holdings Co. and moderated by Dr. Paul Shu-Tsuchido of Aoyama Gakuin Vice Chancellor and Religion Chief. Alumni who participated in the online viewing commented that they were glad that AGGW provided an opportunity for alumni to participate in Aoyama the efforts of the Academy in a unified manner.
This year, the impact of the new Corona limited the range of student activities and opportunities for international exchange. However, for the next and subsequent AGGWs, we would like to make the activities even more student-centered, including participation in the executive committee. In order to promote internationalization, we plan to enhance events that enable direct communication with international students and people from other countries. We hope that AGGW will become a week where "each and every one of us can feel that we are a part of the global society wherever we are".
