This course, themed “Cultivating a Caring and Inclusive Society for All,” is part of a four-phase foundational program and a required pre-departure course for students participating in short-term study abroad programs. In the first semester, a total of 79 students took part—48 from Hiroshima University and 31 from five partner universities—where they learned the fundamentals of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and engaged in international student exchange.

Hiroshima University students received academic credit for the course, while students from partner institutions were awarded a certificate of completion signed by the executives of all six universities.

Participants from Partner Universities:

Beijing Normal University (China): 2 students

Changchun University (China): 5 students

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea): 3 students

Kasetsart University (Thailand): 9 students

Indonesia University of Education (Indonesia): 12 students

Course Lectures:
Lectures were conducted not only by faculty from Hiroshima University but also by professors from the partner institutions, covering a broad range of topics related to D&I in each country.

June 4 – Hiroshima University Lecturer (for Hiroshima University students only)

June 11 – Lecturer from St. Cloud State University (Minnesota, USA), lecture delivered in sign language

June 18 – Lecturer from Kasetsart University (Thailand)

June 25 – Lecturer from Beijing Normal University (China)

July 2 – Hiroshima University Lecturer, final presentation preparation

July 9 – Lecturer from Indonesia University of Education

July 16 – Final presentation preparation in multinational student groups

July 23 – Final presentations by multinational student groups

July 30 – Hiroshima University Lecturer (for Hiroshima University students only)

Post-Course Participation in Study Abroad Programs (START）:

Following the course, 38 students from Hiroshima University participated in short-term overseas study programs (START), engaging in training in Asia (South Korea, China, Vietnam), the United States (Idaho), and Europe (Austria).

In particular, the START programs in South Korea and China, which focus on D&I, positioned this COIL course as a mandatory pre-departure component, with 10 students participating.

Additionally, one of the five students from Changchun University who participated in this course later joined the START China course, where they had the opportunity to engage in exchange activities in Beijing as a student participant.