27 October 2021

Japan-ASEAN Training Course towards SDGs "Learning Japanese culture and Biodiversity from UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan"

By
Noppanun Sookping
AUN Programme Officer;

ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat had the honour of co-hosting the Japan-ASEAN Training Course towards SDGs "Learning Japanese culture and Biodiversity from UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan" with Kanazawa University, SUN/SixERS, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan. The five-day training course was organized virtually from 11 – 15 October 2021. 

The five-day Japan-ASEAN Training Course towards SDGs "Learning Japanese culture and Biodiversity from UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan" garnered the attention of over 500 university student applicants from Japan and ASEAN countries; 65 students comprising 50 students from universities in ASEAN and 15 students from universities in Japan were selected to join the training course. The training programme achieved its goals to:

  • Strengthen the capacities of youth interested in sustainable develop to solve environmental issues and introducing economic models to support sustainable development processes
  • Ensure dialogue and active exchange of knowledge on joint regional actions in relation to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity of Japan

Over the five-day virtual training programme, the participating students received their training multi-synchronously in the forms of three live lecturing sessions, two self-study sessions from recorded materials, as well as homework and post-training course assignment. The students’ performance was evaluated and they would receive the certificate confirming their successful participation.

The remarkable success of the Japan-ASEAN Training Course towards SDGs is a testament to strong and healthy collaboration between the AUN and Sun/sixERs. The training programme serves as a starting point for more collaborative opportunities that would reinforce the higher education partnership between Japan and the ASEAN region.

The AUN would like to extend its high gratitude to Kanazawa University, Sun/sixERs group of universities, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan for such a wonderful learning experience that the student participants from ASEAN and Japan received over the five-day programme. With evidence from the success in the organization of this training course, The AUN is hopeful in the development and continuation of this pioneering higher education initiative between ASEAN and Japan, especially in the prospect of establishing a network of student alumni and exchange programmes between participating universities from the region and Japan in the future.