On Thursday, June 27, 2024, five faculty members and JICA experts from our partner school, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), visited the School of Global Japanese Studies to observe Japanese seminar-style teaching methods and participated in the Kishi Seminar Group’s activities. This visit was organized as a result of
the joint research on Arts-Based Research (ABR) with the Kishi Seminar Group, conducted in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2023. Dr. Awaad, an assistant professor of the Art and Design Program at E-JUST, was especially keen on this visit, as the joint research led him to develop a greater interest in ABR. The faculty members and students of E-JUST showed a strong interest in this research method, continuing their research in collaboration with the Kishi Laboratory.
The first activity of this visit was a 100-minute discussion with the graduate students at the Kishi Laboratory. Following this, the graduate students introduced the theory and practical examples of ABR, which led to a lively discussion with the faculty members of E-JUST. By exchanging perspectives, the participants were able to deepen their understanding of ABR.
Next, the fourth Kishi Seminar students demonstrated ABR using sounds to facilitate understanding of others, and the faculty members of E-JUST experienced it. The Kishi Seminar Group incorporates various art methods into research, including visual art, narrative, and theater. This time, the students focused on "sound" and invited E-JUST faculty members to participate in the experience. The E-JUST faculty members were keenly interested in how the students plan, implement, and evaluate ABR, integrating these into their research work, and they eagerly asked the students questions.
In fiscal 2025, our students will visit E-JUST again to work on new ABR practices. This international joint research has provided a stimulating learning opportunity for faculty members and students on both sides, and it is hoped that this partnership will continue to grow.
