University of Tokyo Summer Exchange

The summer of 2023 was very eventful for me as I took up a Contemporary Japanese

Politics course in the University of Tokyo, allowing me to experience life in Japan for

nearly a month. It was a Global University Course where I participated in a variety of

activities that provided both academic and cultural aspects. The academic portion

included intensive lectures on global and local issues. They also discussed policies,

challenges and their political systems. In class, I also had the opportunity to collaborate

with international peers on projects that challenged our perspectives. As for cultural,

the GUC organised mixers for the international students to interact with their local

UTokyo students as well as other international course mates, over a number of activities

such as tours and activities. Interacting with them on this scale allowed me to learn

more about other countries, cultures and make new friends.

The programme provided me with a wealth of experiences that broadened my

understanding of global issues, leadership and intercultural communication.

Academically, I deepened my knowledge of political trends and how different countries

are addressing challenges and how they handle politics such as the passing of bills and

how they tackle the public’s reactions to them. I also developed essential professional

skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration, as I

worked alongside participants from diverse backgrounds. Personally, I gained a greater

appreciation for the value of diverse perspectives in addressing complex global

problems.

This experience has reshaped my view on having a global career. I now realize the

importance of being adaptable and open to different cultural viewpoints in any

professional environment. The programme reaffirmed my desire to work in a

multinational organization, where I can apply my enhanced communication skills and

global knowledge to address international challenges. It has also instilled in me a sense

of responsibility to contribute to solutions that have a worldwide impact.