Project Overview

What is the Inter-University Exchange Project?

The Inter-University Exchange Project is a funding project launched by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2011 with the aim to nurture students who can be active in the international arena. It also aims to strengthen the global development of university education and to support the international collaboration between Japanese and overseas. Thus far, universities from Asia, North America, Central and South America, and Europe have joined in the project.
The website of “Inter-University Exchange Project by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)”

Project by University of the Ryukyus (Ryudai)

Developing Global Leaders in the Pacific Island Region for its Sustainable Development via COIL Technology

This project fosters global leadership under the auspices of the Inter-University Exchange Project, grant awarded in 2018 “Inter-University Exchange Project-supporting exchange with US universities using COIL-style education”. The aim of this program is to foster leadership skills in students in order to reach the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout the Pacific Islands. This is done with the following institutions: University of Hawaii, University of Guam, Palau Community College, College of Micronesia-FSM and College of the Marshall Islands that have deep exchange with University of the Ryukyus. All undergraduate students at the University of the Ryukyus are eligible to participate in the Global Shinryo Program Minor, a combination of Global Studies and specialized courses.

Background and Objectives of the Project

The University of the Ryukyus has established mutual recognition for common issues through Inter-University Exchange and exchange with the Pacific Islands for half a century. It has a long-term vision to become a “university that creates a prosperous society for the future together with the local community” and “an excellent educational and research hub in the Asia-Pacific region” as a future image. Its mission is to foster human resources who can contribute to solving problems in islands as a leading educational research organization in the region.

Countries in the Pacific Ocean are connected by the vast ocean and are, in a sense, borderless. However, this also makes the region vulnerable to conflict over marine resources. Additionally, the ocean is especially susceptible to the effects of climate change. There is, therefore, an urgent need to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders to tackle these issues.

Two types of Leaders

Through the COIL exchange and inbound/outbound programs, we aim to foster two types of leadership.

1. Integrated leadership
   The leaders who create systems to solve complex problems by integrating multiple subject areas, such as politics, resources, culture, and infrastructure.
2. Leadership in Specialized Fields
   The leaders who create systems to solve specialized issues taking into account the relationship between specialized fields and macro-framework. Leaders will acquire the ability to optimize their specialized field for solving local issues.

Initiatives in the Project

We are working on the project based on the following 2 learning programs, utilizing the COIL-style Education.

1. Global Shinryo Program (Minor)
2. Overseas Student Exchange Program (Inbound/Outbound)

*COIL-style Education (Collaborative Online International Learning)

Project Overview [Team/Organization]

It is currently in preparation.