Institute Hosts Students from Japanese University for Service-Learning

The Institute of Service Learning (ISL) is hosting another batch of students from the International Christian University (ICU) of Tokyo, Japan from June 29 to July 4.

ICU’s Service-Learning Director Prof. Hiroshi Suzuki will lead this year’s batch composed of Yuki Tamaki, Saya Inui, Julia Ward, Erika Masuda, Shusaku Koga, Hinata Miyahira, Ayano Omuro, Saiji Suzuki and Kyoko Kimura.

The students will be assigned as groups to ISL’s partner communities around Dumaguete City where they will experience Filipino culture, be exposed to day-to-day activities, interact with local people, and learn more about different local issues.

Service-learning is a teaching pedagogy that builds within students a deeper sense of self in relation to others. It provides immersion opportunities where students to learn more about realities on the ground, work with the community, and initiate activities that foster mutual understanding and an exchange of ideas.  It utilizes reflection sessions in facilitating students’ broader understanding of an environmental that is usually outside one’s comfort zone.

ICU is one of Silliman University’s long-standing institutional partners in Japan. It convened the Service-Learning Asia Network of which Silliman is a founding member.