From 7 to 9 October 2023, scholars from the Kyoto University Asia Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) took part in fieldwork in Miyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture, as part of AFLSP's Enrichment Program, comprised of activities planned and implemented by each university with support from Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI), which operates AFLSP.
Each year, the activities in Miyama — a 'service learning' segment of the Enrichment Program at Kyoto University — offer opportunities to experience the charms and challenges of Japanese rural life and to gain profound insights into topics such as intercultural understanding and sustainability.
The 2023 activities included: lectures and interviews by local residents, a homestay, a visit to a traditional thatched-roof village, agricultural experiences, and reflections. These were all designed to help participants deepen their understanding and appreciation of traditional Japanese culture and learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion, enabling all to grasp the harsh reality of population aging and declining fertility and explore avenues for sustainable development.
The fieldwork proved a valuable opportunity for the students to expand their knowledge and experience through interaction with local residents.
Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP)
AFLSP was established in 2014 by BXAI with the aim of providing young people in Asia with opportunities to study in other parts of the region, enabling them to deepen their understanding of different cultures while gaining the leadership skills needed to contribute to regional and global development.
The program currently accepts approximately 100 students each year to study at six partner universities in Japan and China. As one of the partner universities, Kyoto University annually hosts approximately ten scholars.
