An Exciting New Community at Waseda:
The International Community Center grand opening on July 7, 2006
An Overview of ICC
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Waseda University opened a completely new facility, the International Community Center (ICC) on July 7, 2006. It is located on the first floor (former Career Center) of Bldg. No. 25 (Okuma Garden House), facing the Okuma Garden. Not only is the Center well located but student, faculty and alumni visitors can also enjoy the seasonal beauty of the garden. Let's look behind the scenes at why ICC was created, as well as its purpose and mission.
The Origin and Purpose of ICC
Waseda has over 2,000 international students, the largest number among Japanese private universities. Most Japanese students, however, feel that they have little opportunity to make friends with them beyond campus or department borders, as many of the international students are enrolled at some specific graduate or undergraduate schools. International students likewise miss out on chances to interact with Japanese students, and tend to stick with their fellow international students during their stay at Waseda. Both Japanese and international students’ needs for exchange are the same, yet until now there has been no facility in place to meet these very important needs. After carefully considering the suggestions and opinions of students, staff, and faculty, the Waseda community took action. Several Waseda staff members, who are in daily contact with students with these specific needs, visited universities abroad to learn successful ways to promote intercultural exchange on campus between students of different nationalities. Their proposal for creating ICC was readily accepted by the Executive Board in January 2005 and finally materialized in June 2006 after 18 months of preparation.
Mission
We are looking forward to seeing you!
(7 student staff members at ICC) |
We find the words "Waseda is a melting pot of diverse cultures" in our Alma Mater, indicating that our founder believed in the importance of exchange with other cultures even at the dawn of Japan’s internationalization. ICC offers such an environment, where all students can interact regardless of nationality or culture, and through that interaction, deepen their understanding of each others’cultures and from there generate new values and interests. ICC provides international students with opportunities to learn more about Japan and Waseda, while Japanese students can become more sensitive to other cultures. Various events and programs are being prepared by ICC student staff members, selected from among global-minded Japanese and international students at Waseda.
All about ICC: International Community Center
As Waseda's center for “true” intercultural opportunities, ICC offers
1.Support for students to engage in mutual exchange
2.Updated, useful information for intercultural exchange
To achieve these aims, ICC will implement the following:
1: Promotion of Mutual Exchange
ICC aims to promote student exchange not only for students, but also for those who have some sort of connection with Waseda: faculty & staff, alumni, and local people. ICC facilitates exchanges through which cultural values can be discovered and experienced.
Cultural Exchange between International and Japanese Students
The first bilingual vending machine at Waseda is located in the lobby in front of ICC! This vending machine which has the aura of a real café, will surely be an area for conversations with friends! (ICC users are welcome to bring in and enjoy beverages, except in the computer and audio/visual areas. You may eat anytime on the outside terrace!)
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As the epicenter of “cultural exchange”, ICC will organize various activities such as special days or weeks to feature specific countries or regions in Japan and the world, introducing the local culture through student presentations, talk sessions, and exhibitions. Other planned events include 1) Forum: Discussions on a specific theme in a particular language; 2) Language Exchange: Matching Japanese and international students together so that they can teach their native languages to each other; 3) Intercampus exchange, and 4) Field trips to discover Japanese culture, for both Japanese and international students.
Exchange between Students and Faculty & Staff
One of ICC's missions is to provide opportunities for informal exchange between students and faculty & staff, including visiting scholars and researchers. As members of the same academic community, they can enjoy each other's company in a friendly atmosphere at ICC. Interdepartmental forums are planned for those who share common concerns and interests. “National/Local Salon” will provide venues for people coming from the same country/region to meet each other and enjoy talking in their native language or dialect.
Students and Alumni
Moreover, interaction between 57,000 current students and 500,000 Waseda alumni in Japan and around the world is expected to grow and stimulate mutual exchange of experiences and ideas. For example, we hope that activities planned for the fall Homecoming Day will provide a meaningful experience for both students and alumni. Also, field trips and cultural experience tours in collaboration with alumni associations all around Japan can be of interest for both students and alumni; students can enjoy talking to Waseda graduates of different generations as students' visits to those communities invigorates the local area.
Students and Locals
The local people of Waseda are also important partners for exchange. ICC's Matching Program is expected to develop new ideas and activities for both students and locals by matching demands and offers from both sides. Inviting locals with unique and various backgrounds and experiences to teach Japanese culture is one significant activity. This is to be expected from a “glocal”(global and local) university like ours, whose door is always open.
2: Informative Aim for Cultural Exchange
Furthermore, ICC assists cultural exchange by providing updated global and local information to ICC users, through which it hopes to foster multicultural understanding.
Information broadcasting from various countries through our multi-monitor system
Watch the world on 10 multi-screens
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Free choice of TV channels to be enjoyed in a comfy area
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Information Boxes to share information on specific countries and areas
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Through the 10 multi-monitor systems which Japan-Samsung Corporation donated to ICC, worldwide news can be viewed. After users exchange their student IDs for headphones, they can choose from a variety of TV programs, from their home country or a country they would like to study in.
Information Boxes of 82 countries and 47 prefectures of Japan
Currently, students at Waseda come from 82 different countries, and all 47 prefectures in Japan. Information boxes have been put into place representing all our students' home countries and regions. Users are encouraged to bring information about their home country/region to share with other ICC users. Students and visitors may find invaluable resources in these boxes when planning to travel or study abroad.
Window to the World
In this section, users can informally share information through postings on bulletin boards under specific themes such as "Japanese souvenirs to take abroad/back home", "Memories of my trip", or "Favorite spots of my hometown". Several information boards are also available outside ICC.
These events and programs are just a few of the upcoming activities. ICC welcomes students’ input and continues to develop according to their needs and interests. Your voice is very important to help the ICC grow into a true global community!
Want more details?
GO to the ICC Website NOW!
International Community Center (ICC)
03-5286-3990 [URL]http://www.waseda.jp/icc/
Copyright (C) 2006 Student Affairs Division, WASEDA University. All rights reserved.
First drafted 2006 July 13. Last revised 2006 August 16