Study Tours to Developing Countries Organized by Japanese Higher Education Institutions

Needs and Gaps among Participants

Abstract

Study tours to developing countries organized by Japanese higher education institutions are on the rise. These study tours are conducted in collaboration with different international cooperation agencies including United Nations agencies, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Non-Governmental Organizations. Study tours offer different experiential learning opportunities to students and from higher education institution’s academic point of view, these study tours greatly benefit students. Through direct contact and experience in/with developing countries, students can correspond to knowledge and information with better understanding, which can possibly lead to students’ further active learning and action. On the other hand, study tours can possibly be a burden for international cooperation agencies whose missions are very different from the academic mission of higher education institutions. The paper examines the needs for study tours among various parties as well as the capacity of international cooperation agencies in cooperating with higher education institutions to plan and carry out study tours. It will then delve into how study tours can be organized so that both higher education institutions and international cooperation agencies can benefit from the tours.