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Discover yourself through exposure to cultural differences
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Discover yourself through exposure to cultural differences

Mon, Jun 5, 2017
Discover yourself through exposure to cultural differences
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Ever-evolving Waseda University

Intercultural Communication Center (ICC)
Discover yourself through exposure to cultural differences

The Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) is committed to promoting cultural understanding at Waseda University. This article presents information about ICC through the interview findings with Professor Hiroko Mikami.

Professor Hiroko Mikami. Head of the Student Diversity Center and professor of the Faculty of International Research and Education.

三神弘子教授

Professor Hiroko Mikami

 

Creating a platform for students of various background to interact with one another

The Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) is established in 2006 on Waseda Campus with the aim of creating a platform for international and local Japanese students to interact with each other. The reason for such initiative is due to a lack of cross-cultural interaction among students from different background in the past even though the international student intake at Waseda University has been increasing every year, even today.

ICC is set up as part of the Student Affairs Division and not the International Affairs Division. The reason behind this decision reflects the University’s effort in promoting the ICC as a Center for every student and not one that is restricted to international students. During the year it was established, the Center had about 3000 participants. Today, the number of participants has grown so much that it attracted more than 16,000 students last year in 2016. Additionally, the variety and number of events have also been increasing throughout the years. As ICC marked its 10th anniversary of the establishment this year, it aims to work with students clubs that have been less involved in international exchange activities, in hopes of reaching out to even students of diverse background to join events organized by the Center.

icc_graph_eyecatch

Overcoming prejudice and form true friendship

Through Language & Cultural Exchange, Country Festival and sports etc., the ICC plans and organizes many different kinds of events and activities for students to interact with people from different background and deepen their understanding of cultures different from their own. One of such events is the “Speak Your Mind Camp” aims at bonding Japanese, Chinese and Korean students (students of other nationalities are also welcomed) together and providing them with an opportunity to exchange views on a wide range of topics such as politically sensitive Comfort Women and territorial dispute (eg. Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and Takeshima/Dokdo Island) related issues. Of course, there will definitely be times when disagreements and conflicts of ideas arise, but the University believes that having conversations on these sensitive issues is the first step to developing better understanding on the issues at hand and building healthy relationships. Another popular event is the “No Border Skiing & Snowboarding Camp” (webpage currently in Japanese only). In this camp, everyone refers to each other by their nicknames. The reason why it is a “border-less” camp is because students are not allowed to disclose their real name, nationality, faculty, grade at university etc. This is part of the effort to remove any preconception or prejudice one might have based on any of these information when making friends.

Student Staff support

The biggest characteristic on ICC is the presence of Student Staff Leader. Student Staff are essentially students who help out when the ICC plans and organizes event and activities. Many of them volunteer themselves by participating in the actual events, help to publicize ICC by giving presentation, provide help desk support and help out in other administrative and managerial work. Currently, there are 20 Student Staff from seven different countries and six full-time university staff working at ICC. As they have to work with different people from different background, the Center provides an environment to foster better cultural understanding and communication among Student Staff and full-time staff. This is especially beneficial to the Student Staff as these skills would be transferable to their future workplaces when they graduate from the University. Last year, ICC started its very first ICC Alumni Gathering where past and current Student Staff gathered together. There were Alumni working for the United Nation (UN) and foreign relations, and the gathering with alumni has inspired many of the current Student Staff. Also, starting last year, there is also effort to include volunteering work in Student Staff Orientation. As a result, Student Staff now have better understanding for minority groups such people with disabilities. This has encouraged Student Staff to plan and organize events and activities aimed to promote better understanding among students of these groups of students.

Understanding and embracing “Diversity”

The ICC is not only dedicated to organizing cultural exchange events, but also but also committed to organizing events that would raise awareness on and deeper students’ understanding of minority groups and global related issues. For example, there are plans to invite refugees from Syria who are currently living in Japan to give talks and share their real life experiences. In addition, there are also plans to bring students to Meiji Shrine to expose them to and promote understanding of Japanese religious beliefs.

In April 2017, the University established its Student Diversity Center, combing smaller units such as the Office for Students with Disabilities (established in 2006), Intercultural Communication Center (established in 2006) and Gender and Sexuality Center (established in 2017; first university in Japan to make this initiative; homepage currently in Japanese only) in hope that these units would work more closely and support each other more than ever, creating a synergistic effect. For example, even without ICC paving the way and organizing events, students can still interact with one another through events organized by the other two units. As the University moves closer to its goal in Waseda Vision 150 of enrolling 10,000 international students and having all Waseda students participant in overseas exchange program, it does not mean that ICC will eventually lose its purpose. Instead, ICC will continue to urge and work with all university staff to raise awareness about global issues among students.


Student Staff Kimura shares his experience working at ICC

icc_student_staff_eyecatch

There are currently 20 Student Staff at ICC. Kimura is the second person from the left in the back row.

I am very glad to be able to work with people who come from different background, have different values and different languages, as well as being able to speak my mind in discussion without restraint. Although there are times when we are not able to come up with a conclusion after a discussion, I think the biggest characteristic working at ICC is to discuss and exchange views without preconceptions. I hope to plan and organize more events in which students can learn about cultures different from their own while enjoying themselves at the same time.


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