In May 2024, a group comprising seven EHE students, two faculty members, and one staff member embarked on a 10-day, grant funded educational journey to the University of Tsukuba in Japan. The focus was on cultivating an understanding of the “Inclusive Smart Society,” particularly in the context of sports and leisure activities. The itinerary was diverse, encompassing lectures, tours of academic institutions and industry facilities, participation in Judo and Archery classes, hiking Mount Tsukuba, and exploring Tokyo’s landmarks. The participating students represented undergraduate, Masters, and Doctoral programs within EHE.
During the visit, Human Sciences faculty members Sue Sutherland and Jackie Goodway delivered lectures alongside their counterparts from UT on the topics: “Think BIG …..Work Small: Developing Motor Competence in a Smart City” (Goodway/Sieji), “Leisure and Wellbeing,” and “Disability and Sport: Inclusive Smart Society II” (Sutherland/Sato/Nagata). Both EHE students and their Japanese and International peers from UT attended sessions. The lectures were recorded and will represent three of seven total modules in the Inclusive Smart Society II course, which is part of a broader COIL program set to commence in October 2024. As part of her itinerary, Carlotta Penn, Senior Director of Partnerships and Engagement, met with UT administrators and faculty to strategize future grant-related endeavors.
Funding for this visit was generously provided by the University of Tsukuba MEXT grant: the College of Education and Human Ecology is a primary collaborating unit, with Ohio State University serving as a grant partner institution. Through this collaboration, both the University of Tsukuba and the College of Education bolstered their longstanding institutional partnership. This visit also actualized a primary goal of the MEXT grant: fostering cross-cultural exchange among 5,000 students and faculty through initiatives like COIL and mobility programs, while also laying the groundwork for future educational exchanges.
