At Ritsumeikan Uji High School, all students in the immersion course spend a full year studying abroad during their first or second year. To help first-year students who entered this spring prepare for this experience, IM So-Go is held as part of their study abroad preparation.

As part of this curriculum, a special two-part lecture was delivered by Professor, Miki Horie, Dean of the College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA) at Ritsumeikan University.

The theme of the lecture was “Intercultural Sensitivity.”

Through theoretical frameworks such as the “Iceberg Model of Culture” and “Low-Context vs. High-Context Communication,” students explored the less visible aspects of culture and learned the importance of understanding others and diverse cultural perspectives. The lecture also delved into the attitudes and skills necessary to adapt to different cultures, providing students with valuable insights from an academic viewpoint.

Professor Horie also shared personal experiences from her time studying abroad and her international career, which served as powerful inspiration for the students as they begin to envision their own futures.

Student reflections included comments like, “I now have a clearer mindset for studying abroad,” and “I’m even more excited about going overseas.” This kind of academic and practical approach to cultural understanding is one of the key strengths of the IM Course.

Ritsumeikan Uji will continue to offer global learning opportunities that broaden students’ perspectives and foster the development of truly global citizens.