SLAN Meeting with our Partner Universities in Asia

On June 18, to develop SL in the Asian region, about 50 people from 23 institutions in 8 countries participated in the SLAN (Service-Learning Asia Network) meeting. As cancellation of meeting in Taiwan due to the COVID-19, it became the first online session. Facilitated by "Taipei Medical University" in Taiwan and "Silliman University" in the Philippines, each university introduced its recent efforts on service-learning.

 

From ICU, Professor Mikiko Nishimura, Director of Service-Learning Center, shared new initiatives such as faculty-led courses, rubrics, co-listing, SL outside Asia and scholarships. After the presentation, we received warm messages such as “It is really good that ICU is working on to bring in SL into the major studies.” Moreover, ICU's partner universities, “Siliman University” in the Philippines, “Union Christian College” and “Lady Doak College” in India talked about the programs with ICU and the strengthening of future collaboration with us.

 

 

A large number of other universities are focusing on the service-learning curriculum. Some have the high student participation rate, various projects on strong collaboration with local communities, and many programs involving faculty in a wide range of fields regardless of humanities and sciences. In particular, service-learning is active in the academic fields of business/economy, IT/computer, education, and social sciences, and it seems that there are many activities for children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, women, fishermen and farmers. Also, it seems that some universities provides activity programs for the environmental and social issues in terms of SDGs, and some are engaged in online activities due to the recent coronavirus influence.

 

It was very inspiring that many universities are focusing on "service-learning" in such a vast Asia, which is still developing in Japan. This network, which started in 2002, will soon reach its 20th year. We would like to continue working together with our partner institutions that we have developed our relationship over many years to expand service-learning.

 

▼Meeting host members from Taipei Medical University (謝謝!)