School of Economics Holds On-line Workshop with Three Major Asian Universities

The School of Economics at Okayama University held an on-line workshop in English on December 3, 2020, inviting the school and students of three universities with which it conducts exchanges, Kangwon National University (in South Korea), National University of Singapore (in Singapore) and National Chiayi University (in Taiwan). There were 60 participants, including 39 students from the School of Economics.

The School of Economics was dispatching more than 100 students for study abroad or training each year in the 2018 and 2019 academic years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has suspended both dispatch and receipt of overseas trainees and study-abroad students in the 2020 academic year. Under these circumstances, we wanted to give the students even a little chance for international exchange, so the International Experts’ Committee at the School of Economics planned this workshop.

First, Prof. Masao Tsuri of the School of Economics gave a presentation on the current state of Japan’s economy during the COVID-19 crisis, following which Assoc. Prof. Hendrik Meyer-Ohle of the National University of Singapore, Prof. Hung-Wen Lee of National Chiayi University in Taiwan, and Mr. Seungyeop Baek, a student at Kangwon National University in South Korea described the current state of impact from the COVID-19 and measures against infection at their respective universities.

Zoom breakout rooms were used for the latter half of the workshop, with all of the teachers and students breaking into seven groups to hold lively discussions on the two topics of “What was/is the biggest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your life?” and “How can we carry out international exchange during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?” Finally, one person from each group was chosen to present a summary of their discussion, sharing it with everyone. A meaningful time was had with all of the participants, who shared their own experiences across national boundaries and varied positions.

While everyone’s movement was limited in daily life, by using English and the Internet, all of the participants could feel a sense of closeness with the world, even if just for two hours. Students at the School of Economics could participate in the discussions and express their views, and the facilitators and presenters could demonstrate their English skills. From the impressions afterwards, one can see that many students will desire this kind of opportunity in the future, so the School of Economics plans to expand these opportunities further.

【Program】

< Opening remarks >

Prof Xingyuan ZHANG, Dean of School of Economics, Okayama university

< Keynote speech >

・Japanese Economy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consumption, Trade and Policy
Prof Masao Tsuri, School of Economics, Okayama University

・COVID-19 and NUS-Singapore
Associate Professor Hendrik Meyer-Ohle, Department of Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore

・The COVID-19 in South Korea
Mr Seungyeop Baek (Student, Kangwon National University

・Prevention and Control of COVID-19 at the National Chiayi University, Taiwan
Prof Hung-Wen Lee, Dean of College of Management, National Chiayi University

< Discussion >

Topic 1: “What was/is the biggest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your life?”
Topic 2: “How can we carry out international exchange during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?”

The on-line workshop
Describing the COVID-19 crisis in South Korea
Presentations by Prof. Hung-Wen Lee of National Chiayi University and Assoc. Prof. Hendrik Meyer-Ohle

【Host】

School of Economics, Okayama University

【Collaborator】

Okayama University CAMPUS Asia Secretariat

【For inquiries on this workshop】

Ms. Yoko Hirota
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics)
TEL:086-251-7550