HSI Report: SDGs Seminar —International Co-learning PBL
for Problem Solving
University News | July 28, 2022

Participants discussing ideas for the theatrical performance. Photo provided by OGGs.

In this highly complex and diverse international society, the ability tounderstand different perspectives, identify common goals, andcollaborate beyond backgrounds is much needed. The HSI course“SDGs Seminar: International Co-learning PBL for Problem Solving”
took place from July 4th to 8th, 2022, to give students a unique
opportunity to acquire such skills through Problem Based Learning(PBL). Forty-three students from ten countries participated in thiscourse onsite or online.
“The purpose of this course is to let you interact with people fromdiverse backgrounds to create one thing together,” said Professor

Hirofumi Kato, the course organizer, at the beginning of the event. The
program is also part of the newly established educational program,“One Program for Global Goals”, or OGGs. The OGGs was launched in
April 2022 by merging three previously existing courses called PARE,RJE3, and STSI, each of which was a joint program with universities inThailand and Indonesia, Russia, and India, respectively. “The OGGs
has become a multinational program, and this HSI course is our firstattempt to blend students from the three programs together,” said
Sachiko Kato, an OGGs coordinator. The course was also joined by
non-OGGs students from Taiwan, the Philippines, China, Cambodia,
Thailand, Bangladesh, and Japan.
The participants, divided into 9 groups, first selected an SDGs-related
topic to work on, such as diversity, energy and resources, or equality ineducation. By going through rounds of discussions, they exchanged
their thoughts on the topic and situation in their home countries,identified common issues, and devised ideas for solutions. They wereasked to present their ideas on the last day in the form of apresentation or theatrical performance, which was a unique feature of
the program.

Participants preparing for the presentation. Photo provided by OGGs.

Noriyuki Sawa, a renowned puppeteer and theatrical producer who was
the guest instructor of the course, introduced the basic movements inpuppetry and the importance of teamwork between puppeteers.
“Explanation and expression are two different things. If you explain
something and say, ‘Let’s save resources for the future,’ your audience
may understand it, but they don’t necessarily feel it. Without feeling it,people won’t take action,” said Sawa, emphasizing the importance ofexpression in conveying a message.
On the final day, five groups gave presentations addressing, forexample, how to protect cultural diversity, build energy resilience, andmanage increasing waste. Four other groups conducted theatricalperformances themed on diversity in innovation, waste control,depression, and environmental protection.

A performance themed on depression.

One of the participants from Taiwan said, “I never imagined that I
would perform puppetry in this course, but it has become a
special memory! Even though our group members had never met

before, we soon became friends, and I feel a sense of belonging in agroup when making puppetry. I think this experience will help me
enhance my communication skills when working together with othersin the future.”
Another participant, Takayuki Hayashikawa, a graduate student
studying civil engineering, said, “It was quite challenging, yetenjoyable, to work in a multinational team while communicating inEnglish. I tried my best to express myself and to understand others.
The SDGs had been somewhat distant, but through the active
discussion, this course changed my attitude towards SDGs; I came torealize that sustainability is a pressing issue.”Participants of the HSI course. Photo provided by OGGs.

To learn more about Hokkaido Summer Institute, visit their website:
https://hokkaidosummerinstitute.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/
Written by Naoki Namba