On May 30, Ms. OHARA Mizumo, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, paid a courtesy visit to President NASU Yasutomo and others following her selection as a student for the UNESCO Training Program, a long-term internship program jointly established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) and the UNESCO Headquarters.

In addition to Ms. Ohara, Vice President for Global Engagement and UNESCO Chairholder YOKOI Atsufumi and Ms. Ohara’s supervisor, Prof. KUROKAMI Naozumi of the Faculty of Law, were also present at the courtesy visit and explained the process from application to selection.

This program was designed by MEXT (namely, the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO) to provide young Japanese people with opportunities for long-term training (in principle, at least 6 months and up to 12 months) at UNESCO offices (including regional offices) to promote understanding of UNESCO activities, develop human resources who can work globally, like international agency, and regional revitalization through UNESCO activities, etc.
After concluding a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the program with UNESCO Headquarters, MEXT launched the training program in 2024, intending to contribute to the promotion of understanding of UNESCO activities, the development of human resources who can play globally active roles, and regional revitalization through UNESCO activities, etc.

The program is currently open to universities with UNESCO chairs, and the recipients are selected from UNESCO offices around the world according to the applicant’s field of expertise and aspirations.

Following a rigorous application process, Ms. Ohara, under the guidance of the Okayama University UNESCO Chairholder, Vice President Prof. Yokoi, has been selected as the first batch of students of the UNESCO Training Program. Ms. Ohara will start her training program at the Education Bureau (in charge of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which Okayama University UNESCO Chair is undertaking) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, for a year from July 2024.

On May 31, she also participated in a send-off ceremony for the UNESCO training program hosted by Mr. WATANABE Masami, the Director-General for International Affairs, MEXT, held online.

Ms. Ohara commented, “I am deeply grateful for this life-changing opportunity, which I owe to the unwavering support of many people. The prospect of working at UNESCO Headquarters fills me with excitement. I will make the most of my experience in the SOTG 2022 “Youth Engagement Program” and the knowledge I gained through research at graduate school. Through this practical experience, I will deepen my understanding of UNESCO activities and give back to the community once I return,” she said enthusiastically.

Through the initiatives and activities of the UNESCO Chair at the university, Okayama University aims to contribute to planetary well-being by co-creating the desired future of the local community and the Earth with diverse stakeholders.