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 27 to Thursday, August 6.

During this 10-day program, twelve undergraduate students from AUW and an equal number from UTokyo together explored the theme “The University in the Changing World: Re-envisioning Higher Education and Global Citizenship.” Along with the lectures delivered by leading experts, students engaged in a variety of on- and off-campus activities. These included campus facility tours, film screenings, and cultural experience sessions, as well as field trips such as a workshop at the Fast Retailing Foundation, the program’s sponsor, and a visit to Ferris University in Yokohama. Through these various learning experiences, the students delved into the theme from diverse perspectives.

The program concluded with a symposium held on Thursday, August 6. Under the theme “The University That Serves the World: Students’ Visions and Proposals,” the students presented their visions of the ideal university drawing on their experiences during the summer program and offered concrete proposals to both UTokyo and AUW. Following their presentations, they engaged in a lively discussion with leaders from both universities (UTokyo President Fujii and AUW Interim Vice Chancellor Rayamajhi) as well as Dr. Rui Kohiyama, President of Ferris University.

The students reminisced about the deeply meaningful time they spent throughout the program, sharing bittersweet farewells. The AUW students left the UTokyo campus the next day.

*Founded in 2008 in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Asian University for Women (AUW) offers a liberal arts education to women across Asia—including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste. It empowers those who struggle to access higher education due to poverty, war, marginalization, and gender discrimination, cultivating the next generation of female leaders dedicated to global contribution.