The Omoro Challenge is a newly launched international program aimed at "fostering wisdom and an adventurous spirit" in students and developing "global human resources with intercultural understanding and international capability" -- goals articulated in President Juichi Yamagiwa's WINDOW Concept. Established with full support from Kanae-Kai, an association of KU-affiliated business leaders dedicated to promoting the President's visions, Omoro Challenge enables students to travel abroad to not just study, but also to pursue unique projects that the students themselves have planned.
For the 2016 academic year, 31 participants were selected from a pool of 115 applicants (53 undergraduate and 62 graduate students) to undertake activities such as a field survey of golden snub-nosed monkeys in China, a case study of rural community revitalization projects in Italy, hula training in Hawaii, a survey of chronic disease and treatments in rural Nepal, observation of wild baboons in the African savanna, and site surveys of Alvar Aalto's architectural works in Finland.
After returning to Japan, participants are expected to share their overseas experiences at a debriefing session to be held later this academic year.
Related link
- WINDOW -- A Vision for the Future
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/about/operation/window.html
