Report on the Cambodia & Bhutan Study Tour Presentation at the 76th Kiin Festival

2025年12月5日更新

Exhibition scene (student poster explanations)

The PowerPoint presentations and poster exhibition on the Cambodia and Bhutan study tour, which was conducted as part of the Practicum for a Convivial Global Society, were presented on 8 and 9 November as part of the 76th Kin Festival Academic Presentations. The following reports are from the participating students.

Bhutan Study Tour presentations

Presentation scene

On 8 November, at the Kiin Festival, two students who had participated in the Bhutan Study Tour, which was conducted as part of the Practicum for a Convivial Global Society, presented their research findings. During their presentations, we provided an overview of the study tour and reported on their individual local research projects, incorporating photographs and anecdotes from their time there.

We also introduced Bhutan, a country with which many people are unfamiliar, covering its geographical features, cultural background, social systems, and the philosophy behind its national policy of 'Gross National Happiness', which prioritises the well-being of its citizens. Furthermore, we ran an interactive GNH workshop, encouraging participants to reflect on the meaning of happiness. Despite the short timeframe, we shared a wealth of insights and perspectives.Thanks to everyone's warm cooperation, it became a highly rewarding learning experience for us all.

Additionally, local university students who we had interacted with during the study tour made a special online appearance this time, conducting a mini-lecture on the Dzongkha language.They taught us simple greetings and everyday phrases, offering us a valuable insight into Bhutan's linguistic culture.The audience responded enthusiastically, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere throughout the lecture.

Conducted participatory GNH workshops

Although time was limited, we delivered a substantive presentation incorporating as much as possible from the five months of learning and insights gained, including the preparatory studies that began in June. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended.

The presentation at the Kiin Festival marked the culmination of this study tour, and participating in it allowed me to experience the charm of Bhutan firsthand. Through field research, I experienced firsthand the warmth of the people and their pride in their culture, which strengthened my desire for others to learn about this richness, too. Furthermore, I intend to cherish the connections I made with everyone I met there and maintain a positive attitude towards international exchange in future. Thank you very much to everyone who participated and supported us.

（Sakurako Sameshima, senior student, Department of Human Life Studies, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences)

Report on Bhutan Study Tour (2025)

Cambodia Study Tour presentations

Presentation scene

On Sunday 9 November, five students who took part in the 'Practicum for a Convivial Global Society', which took place from 21 to 29 August, presented the results of their research in Room 402 of Building 1 of the Common Lecture Building. A poster exhibition was also held in Room 403 of the same building.

The presentations introduced findings based on locally conducted interviews, exploring themes such as civic education in Cambodia, perceptions of marriage, regional and gender disparities in access to higher education, foreign aid, and the relationship between Cambodian society and gender.Although conducting the interviews locally presented challenges at times, seeing all the students confidently present their research findings reaffirmed that their efforts had yielded tangible results. Furthermore, the presentations provided each student with an opportunity to reflect on their research content and findings, enabling them to further deepen their individual insights.

Mr. Vuthy and the students

Mr. Vuthy, our interpreter during the study tour, also joined the presentation online. It was a pleasure to speak with him again after such a long time, and we truly appreciated the opportunity to reconnect and spend time together.

For our presentation, we wore traditional Cambodian clothing called 'krama', which we had received from the local kindergarten staff we met. Furthermore, we demonstrated how to wear sarong-style trousers purchased at a Cambodian market and displayed an album of photos from our study tour. We believe that this allowed attendees to experience the culture and charm of Cambodia more intimately. There are many more charms of Cambodia waiting to be discovered, and we would be delighted if this presentation sparked even a little interest in the country.

From our preliminary studies to this presentation, the five students and our instructor spent around six months learning about Cambodia together. Before traveling, border conflicts made me feel more anxious than anything else. However, thanks to the support of my dependable peers and our instructor, I was able to enjoy a fulfilling experience from start to finish. Discussing, learning and broaden my thinking alongside my peers during this period was an invaluable experience. I intend to cherish this experience and the lessons I have learned, and to continue developing my interest in Cambodia by building on this foundation for future learning.

（Minami Oku, sophomore student, Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences）

Report on Cambodia Study Tour (2025)