Overseas Field-based Learning in Tokyo – Global and Environmental Studies
Recently the Year 3 Students of Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Global and Environmental Studies have finished the Overseas Field-based Learning in Tokyo, Japan. This compulsory and credit-bearing field trip was designed to provide students with distinctive learning experience by site visits and dialogue with the locals and students, allowing the students to acquire knowledge not only from papers and classrooms but also on-site observation, in-person experience and ideas exchange.
The sites and learning activities were meticulously selected aligning with three distinct learning themes: urban development and transformation, environmental technology and disaster management, and Japanese society and culture. Students embarked on a visit to the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, the world's largest facility for flood control, to gain insights into how technology can mitigate environmental impact and manage disasters effectively. Additionally, they observed the bustling Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, a focal point for understanding urban development, and explored museums such as Showakan to deepen their understanding of Japanese cultural and societal development. In addition to site visits, students have visited the campus of Waseda University and Tokai University, which are the esteemed universities in Tokyo and the East Japan area, and were privileged to have a fruitful discussions with students and professors about the common problems regarding to achieving sustainable development goals in both Japan and Hong Kong.
The success of this trip is indebted to our teaching staff, whose global network of connections with professors and alumni has been pivotal to the success. Through this Overseas Field-based Learning, our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and empathy needed to become adept problem solvers, possessing a diverse and comprehensive skill set capable of addressing any challenges in global and environmental development.
