The Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS) and the Unit for Asian Studies and Education (KUASU) jointly hosted this year’s Kyoto Summer Program (KSP) from 25 July to 9 August 2024.
A total of 34 students from partner universities participated through ILAS: 27 selected from Peking University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan University, Yonsei University, Heidelberg University, the University of Vienna, the University of Barcelona, the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and the University of Florida, and seven who individually applied for the program. KUASU accepted 16 students from Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Chulalongkorn University, UCSD, National Taiwan University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Heidelberg University. Participants also included 40 KyotoU students enrolled in the university-wide course "Multicultural Liberal Arts Seminar: See, Hear, and Know @ Kyoto: From Acceptance to Transmission".
Each year KSP has four main components: academic lectures showcasing unique research from Kyoto University, Japanese language classes, a fieldtrip and cultural experiences, and forums for students from different parts of the world to discuss common issues.
The 2024 program opened with a keynote address from Stanford University Professor Tadashi Tokieda discussing "Mathematics as Magic". The academic lectures offered insights into cutting-edge research in disciplines ranging from primatology and cell biology to Buddhist studies. The fieldtrip featured the city of Omihachiman and the cultural experiences included bon dancing and tea ceremony, all designed to help international participants deepen their understanding of Japanese history and culture. The students from abroad also engaged in lively discussions with peers from KyotoU during Japanese language classes and dedicated sessions.
International participants later shared comments such as: "It was a valuable experience not only to study in Kyoto but also to collaborate with students from diverse countries and fields of study." KSP 2024 thus served as an opportunity for international co-learning, bringing together students with varied backgrounds from Japan and around the world to share knowledge and develop mutual understanding.
