MEXT: A Virtual Global Education Experience with University of Tsukuba
Summer 2025-Spring 2026
Participants meet international students and become eligible for a scholarship to Japan
The MEXT program includes 4 opportunities for virtual global engagement:
- Summer Festival (3-day virtual campus and gaming event June 13-15)
- Inclusive Smart Society II (7-week, asynchronous online course: Fall semester)
- Inclusive Smart Society II (7-week, asynchronous online course: Spring semester)
- Project Based Learning/PLB (7-week asynchronous online course: Spring semester)
Four winners from the Summer Festival will be selected for a scholarship to visit Japan. Students must participate in other MEXT courses. See eligibility details below
Summer Festival
OSU and University of Tsukuba announce the 2nd annual Inclusive Smart Society Summer Festival, hosted by the University of Tsukuba https://iss-summer-festival.jimdofree.com/
The program is designed for all students, faculty and staff at OSU, primarily encouraging student participation but all are welcome.
This festival, fully virtual, offers a variety of engaging activities, including:
- Daily quizzes during the live event
- Language exchange chat rooms (English/Japanese) and the opportunity to interact with students from another part of the world and gain insights into different cultures
- Virtual art gallery and collective pixel art
- Virtual campus tours in Minecraft
- Super Mario Live Gaming event
Participants are invited to collaborate, creating a Minecraft virtual campus. Join the festival, collect points, and attend the daily quiz sessions about the festival during Live Event Time. Get high scores throughout the three days and win an invaluable chance to visit University of Tsukuba. Learn more about last year’s winners, who spent 8 days in Japan in March 2025.
For more information, contact Carlotta Penn.123
Inclusive Smart Society I
This course delves into the concept of an inclusive smart society, with a particular focus on its three fundamental components: “people”, “technology”, and “governance/policy”. Emphasizing the triad outlined by Nam and Pardo (2011), we explore the essential elements that constitute a “smart” society, where investments in human and social capital, coupled with robust ICT infrastructures, propel sustainable growth and elevate the overall quality of life. To further understand how these three components interact and to comprehend the principles behind creating a society that is truly “smart,” students will be exposed to salient information and debates regarding the nature of disabilities and the inclusion of all individuals including those with disabilities.
| ESSPED 5193-0140 (13656) GRAD |
Ind Study: Spec Ed (Independent Study) | Oct 20, 2025- Dec 10, 2025
|
| ESSPED 5193-0150 (13657) UNDERGRAD |
Ind Study: Spec Ed (Independent Study) | Oct 20, 2025- Dec 10, 2025
|
Inclusive Smart Society II
Following the Introduction to Inclusive Smart Society I, this course introduces students to several chosen topics in designing and enhancing ISS: Popular Culture, Comparative Religion, and Sports for the Challenged people and those with disabilities as potential case studies. Students are asked to broaden their perspectives into ISS by learning those topics and exchanging their views via discussion among Japanese and American students. In some cases, students are encouraged to ask how basic notions such as “inclusive” and “smart” could be applied to the topics in this course. Students of Japan and America are also asked to recognize different cultural appreciations of the shared topics, and to learn to incorporate other cultural perspectives in locating problems and in finding solutions.
| KNPE 5194
GRAD |
Ind Study | January 12- Feb 27, 2026 |
| KNPE 5194
UNDERGRAD |
Ind Study | January 12- Feb 27, 2026 |
PBL (Project Based Learning)
Info Coming Soon
Scholarship Eligibility- Summer Festival
4 OSU students to be selected from ISS Summer Festival participation
Selection criteria
- Outstanding performance at the ISS Summer Festival
- GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Must be enrolled in, earn credit for, and pass “Introduction to Inclusive Smart Society I” or “Introduction to Inclusive Smart Society II” in the 2025-2026 academic year, or have passed either course earned credit in the 2024 academic year.
- Must pass be in good academic standing and complete application per OSU policies
Global Education experience will be February or March 2026
Planned activities include visits to research laboratories and facilities, as well as interaction with University of Tsukuba students
Financial Support from the ISS Program
- Round-trip airfare between Japan and the U.S. will be provided
- Students will receive a JASSO scholarship of 80,000 yen, which can be used freely to cover local expenses such as accommodation, meals, and transportation.
Scholarship Eligibility- PBL
Approximately 8 students in total, including both Ohio State University and University of Tsukuba students.
Selection Criteria
- Must be a member of the winning team from the ISS-PBL Final Presentation
- GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Must be enrolled in, earn credits for, and pass “Introduction to Inclusive Smart Society I” or “Introduction to Inclusive Smart Society II” in the 2025 academic year, or have completed the course and earned credits in the 2024 academic year.
- Must pass be in good academic standing and complete application per OSU policies
Global Education experience to be scheduled during the 2026 academic year
Internship Placement and Duration to be determined based on the availability of both students and the host institution
Financial Support from the ISS Program
- Round-trip airfare between Japan and the U.S. will be provided
- Students will receive a JASSO scholarship of 80,000 yen, which can be used freely to cover local expenses such as accommodation, meals, and transportation
For more information, contact Dr. Carlotta Penn- penn.123@osu.edu