Nonoyama Endowment Short Training Program for Women University Teachers and Students from Afghanistan

2016年1月28日更新

From January 19 to 28, 2016, a short training program took place at Ochanomizu University for women teachers and students from Afghanistan, with support from the Nonoyama Endowment. The endowment was established in 2012 on a bequest from the late Emiko Nonoyama, a graduate of the university, to support women’s education in Afghanistan and other developing countries. Since 2012, the university has invited women university teacher and student from Afghanistan to participate. An associate professor from the faculty of science and a student from the department of pharmaceutical science took part this year, the fourth time the program has been held.

Professor Yura’s lecture

The subject of this year’s program was “Advanced technology for biology and chemistry.” Under the guidance of Professor Yoshihito Mori (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science), participants took part in lectures and experiments on technical applications using microwaves and visited a private sector company that runs surveys and analysis on the environment. Professor Kei Yura (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science) also led classes on the basis of genome and proteins, and on the relationship between proteins and diseases.

On January 25 a seminar took place with the title “The Lives of Women in Afghanistan Today.” Participants heard a talk by Ms. Sultani, originally from Afghanistan and now resident in Japan, and the two trainees on the program, followed by a Q&A session. It was clear that the talk aroused a high level of interest, perhaps because opportunities to hear directly from Afghan women in Japan are so rare.

Ambassador Fatimie (left)

At the evaluation session and closing ceremony held on January 28, the two trainees gave presentations on the subjects they had studied, and received feedback from the instructors and guests. This session was also attended by H.E. Dr. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatimie, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Japan, who spoke of the importance of human resources development in the context of peace-building and development. The ambassador expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support to educate the people who will build the country’s future. Solid and steady implementation of programs that contribute to training like this are an important way of supporting development in Afghanistan, a country that still faces many difficulties. In addition to our ongoing training programs for women teachers and students from Afghanistan, we will continue to donate books to schools and universities.