NEWS
'ICU Global Challenge Forum 2024' ICU-Senior High School Collaboration Project
Update: November 27, 2024
【Debating the Posthuman: Liberal Arts Perspectives】
- Period: August 7 (Wed.) - 10 (Sat.), 2024
- Format: In person on the ICU campus（3 nights stay in the student dormitories）
- Quota: 35 students
- Faculty in charge: Program Coordinator Rekishu Yamazaki (Physics）, Katsuhiko Mori （International Relations, Politics, Global Studies）, Yasunori Morishima（Psychology）, Natsumi Ikoma（Literature, Gender and Sexuality Studies）
*Click here to see comments from participants
In this program, four ICU faculty members gave lectures based on their respective specialties on the posthuman debate from a liberal arts perspective and posed various questions that have no definite answers to students. ICU students also participated as facilitators for the discussions and groupworks. At first, the students seemed nervous, but as they talked with ICU students and other participants, they became more relaxed and developed new ideas while listening to each other's opinions. In addition, the bond formed with their peers as they spent time together in the student dormitory located on ICU campus. It seemed to have provided a good stimulus for further study. During the poster session on the final day, nine groups made creative posters and presented them to each other. The lively exchange of opinions with faculty members took place throughout the session, providing an opportunity to further deepen their thoughts. The four days were a great opportunity to get a glimpse into ICU's liberal arts program, as new perspectives were born through contemplation of various questions with peers, academic approaches from various fields of humanities and sciences, and re-examination of the values and common sense we have grown accustomed to.
【Comments from participants】（Excerpt）
- The time I spent with my fellow students was an opportunity to further deepen the bonds that we had developed during the discussions in the lectures and during breaks. From the moment I woke up in the morning until just before I went to bed, I was constantly learning from conversations with my peers, and I was able to experience firsthand how fulfilling and more meaningful life would be if I could start this kind of student life a year and a half later.
- Since so many things that were fuzzy in my mind were verbalized and clarified in the discussions, and I thought that what I gained was much different than simply taking a class.
- I was able to experience the Liberal Arts of ICU in depth throughout the four days. Through talking with many ICU students, teachers, and high school students who have their own opinion, I was able to strongly feel that I would like to spend my four years at ICU. Unlike the open campus, it was not fragmented, and I was able to know the advantages of ICU's environment on my own skin. I enjoyed the discussions very much.
- The program included a lot of discussion in the lectures, and the members of the group were all very sincere about what they were discussing, so I felt that this was the kind of discussion I wanted to have! I was able to learn to face questions that have no answers and not run away from thinking.
- The lecture was a series of "I see" and "Why?". I thought I understood what liberal arts would be like, but when I actually experienced it, I learned more than I had expected.
