On January 24, third-year students of the IM Course held their final presentation for GLS (Global Learning Studies).

In the IM Course, third-year high school students engage in a yearlong inquiry project called GLS as part of their curriculum, working in teams to explore solutions to social issues. Based on their own interests and concerns, students selected central themes from a wide range of global challenges such as issues in education, economic inequality, and environmental problems, and sought solutions through repeated trial and error.

In today’s increasingly globalized society, the social issues that each of us must confront are becoming more complex than ever. In the IM Course, great importance is placed on nurturing the ability to view these challenges not as “someone else’s problem,” but as issues that matter personally, encouraging students to think independently and take action.

At this GLS final presentation, each team shared the outcomes of their yearlong inquiry. On the day, we welcomed Associate Professor Mayumi Shimura from the College of Global Liberal Arts at Ritsumeikan University, who provided thoughtful and detailed feedback on each presentation. This offered students a valuable opportunity to reflect on their inquiry processes and outcomes, deepening their learning even further.

Throughout the year, students continuously asked themselves “What can we do, specifically because we are who we are?” while confronting the challenges of solving complex social issues. We hope that the attitude of persistently engaging with meaningful questions cultivated through GLS will serve them well in their future academic paths and throughout their lives.