This course, themed “Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in School”, is part of a four-phase foundational program and a required pre-departure course for students participating in short-term study abroad programs. In the first semester, a total of 64 students took part—37 from Hiroshima University and 27 from four partner universities—where they learned the fundamentals of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and engaged in international student exchange.

Hiroshima University students received academic credit for the course, while students from partner institutions were awarded a certificate of completion signed by the executives of all six universities.

Participants from Partner Universities:

Changchun University (China): 3 students

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea): 1 student

Kasetsart University (Thailand): 4 students

Indonesia University of Education (Indonesia): 19 students

Course Lectures:
Lectures were conducted not only by faculty from Hiroshima University but also by professors from the partner institutions, covering a broad range of topics related to D&I in each country.

November 28 – Hiroshima University Lecturer (for Hiroshima University students only)

December 5 – Hiroshima University Lecturer

December 12 – Lecturer from Beijing Normal University (China)

December 19 – Lecturer from Indonesia University of Education (Indonesia) 

January 9 – Lecturer from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea) 

January 16 – Lecturer from Changchun University (China) 

January 23 – Hiroshima University Lecturer, Final presentation preparation in multinational student groups

January 30 – Final presentations by multinational student groups

February 6 – Hiroshima University Lecturer (for Hiroshima University students only)

Post-Course Participation in Study Abroad Programs (START）:

Following the course, 37 students from Hiroshima University participated in short-term overseas study programs (START), engaging in training in Asia (consecutive travel to two countries—Indonesia and Thailand), the United States (Arizona, Indiana) and Europe (Lithuania), the Middle East (Egypt). 

In particular, the START programs in Indonesia and Thailand, which focus on D&I, positioned this COIL course as a mandatory pre-departure component, with 17 students participating.

During the stay in Indonesia, participants had the opportunity to present certificates of completion for the COIL-based collaborative learning program to local students, and to meet in person the peers with whom they had previously collaborated on presentations online.