Bai Xian Asia Institute Marks 10 Years of Building Bridges Across Cultures

Waseda University commemorates the 10^th anniversary of the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) this year. As a Partner University, Waseda University participates in BXAI’s Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) through its Double Degree Program (DDP) and English-based Degree Program (EDP) in the School of Political Science and Economics (SPSE).  Since the beginning of our partnership in 2014, BXAI has supported more than 90 SPSE students by providing scholarships as well as invaluable learning experiences through intercultural exchange and enrichment opportunities.

During the first five years of our partnership, scholarship recipients were primarily DDP students from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.  Today, BX Scholars at SPSE include EDP students from various Asian countries, such as South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and India.  SPSE professors and administrators organize several study programs for scholars each year, with the study trip being one of the most effective and successful programs.  The destinations of our study trips have included Hiroshima, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Sado (Niigata), Karuizawa, and Yokosuka.  Following a three-year pause on study trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic,  the program resumed in March 2024 with a three-day study trip to Hiroshima.

In August 2023, Waseda University hosted 68 students for the BXAI Summer Program, which fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through interactions among students representing diverse nationalities, languages, religions, cultures, and values.  Among the attendees were 28 graduates who, over the past three years, were unable to participate in person due to the constraints imposed by the pandemic.

In commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of BXAI, Waseda University would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to collaborative efforts across diverse domains, including nurturing future leaders and advancing research.

Please visit the following websites for more details.

Bai Xian Asia Institute’s Website: https://www.bxai.org/

BXAI Summer Program 2023 (Student Testimonial): https://www.waseda.jp/inst/weekly/news/2023/11/30/114311/?lng=en