The University of Tokyo–Asian University for Women Joint Summer Program & Symposium

The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) hosted a joint summer program in collaboration with Asian University for Women (AUW)* from Monday, July 28 to Thursday, August 7.

During this 10-day program, twelve undergraduate students from AUW and an equal number from UTokyo together explored the theme “Growing Up as/with Immigrants and Refugees.” Along with the lectures delivered by leading experts and film screening sessions on campus, the students engaged in off-campus experiences, including a day trip to Yokohama, visits to a Nepali international school and the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, and a workshop at the Fast Retailing Foundation, the program’s sponsor. Through various on- and off-campus learning experiences, the students delved into the theme from diverse perspectives.

The program concluded with a symposium held on Thursday, August 7. Under the theme “Telling the Stories of Immigrants and Refugees,” the symposium featured two filmmakers who have created films about immigrants and refugees: Dr. Kharel Dipesh (Assistant Professor at the Center for Global Education), director of “JAPANI,” and Ms. Emma Kawawada, director of “My Small Land.” The program students presented their reviews of the two films based on what they learned through the program, and the two directors and the audience engaged in lively discussions.

The students bid a fond farewell after the deeply meaningful time they shared throughout the program. The AUW students left UTokyo the following day.


*Asian University for Women (AUW) is situated in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The university was established in 2008 to give first generation women, who are the first in their family to enroll at the university, educational opportunities and nurture their leadership. The university offers liberal arts curricula to women from Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria.