定年退職のご挨拶

The Memories I Cherishwith My KU Family
Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani

Looking back on these past five years, I have many memories to smile at.
Spending 30 years in business, heading NGOs and being a social activist is a completely different
genre than being in the field of education. Coming from the background of education, my desire wasalways to be with the young generation: the future of the country. Although I remained a part ofeducation throughout my journey in Japan, it was in 2018 that brought me back to my field of studies
where I actually belonged. I vividly remember the day when Prof. Hiroshi Yamamoto approached me tobe a part of his project by imbuing education as a full time faculty. Prof. Hiroshi Yamamoto along withProf. Ray Iwata are the first two people who put trust in me and with their support and encouragement I
humbly tried to fit in the system.
During the inception process of Komatsu University in 2017, I was able to take a team from
Kanazawa University to one of the most famous Buddhist universities in India, Nalanda University ofBihar, where a MOU was signed between the two universities that paved the way for the October 2018
collaborative conference, “ABC insight” (Academic, Business and culture) in Gujarat, India wherein many
public and private universities participated and showed interest in faculty and student exchange withKomatsu University.
Ganpat University (GNU), a state private university established in 2005, showed a strong interestin academic collaboration in the areas of common interest. A three week program planned to roll out for2019 was suggested. The aim of the program was to raise Komatsu University student’s awareness ofIndia’s multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society, encourage and educate them about new emerging Indianbusiness environment opportunities, as well as to achieve international understanding and the networking
opportunities in order to enhance their learning and fulfill their need as Global Citizens. Unfortunately
this did not mature at that time. I hope in future under the leadership of Prof. Toru Okamura and the restof the team, it may be an option as well.
The memory that I cherish the most is arranging The Autumn Mongolian Conference at Komatsu

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University in November 2019, wherein approximately 100 Mongolian studies scholars joined fromoverseas and domestic universities in Japan. This was the most honoured event for me for which I am
thankful to Prof. Hiroshi Yamamoto, Prof. Ray Iwata, Komatsu University admin staff Ms. EmikoKitaguchi and Mr. Daisuke Deguchi, and above all the students who worked diligently with me to makethe event successful. This event paved the way for holding the Special Exhibition, commemorating the50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Mongolia:“Photographs Encountering ― Mongolia 100 Years Ago and Now” in Ishikawa, which is set to take placein February 2023 from 10th to 16th.
It was in July of the same year, in 2019, that a meeting was coordinated with Pune Institute ofComputer Technology (PICT) students. The students visited Ishikawa but Komatsu University could not
host the MA students from Pune University, therefore, students visited Kanazawa University andKanazawa Institute of Technology instead. With the consent of our President Prof. Yamamoto, Komatsu
University participated in “Indian Day in Kanazawa” in collaboration with the Hokuriku Economic
Federation, with over 200 participants attending the seminar and the reception.
The past two years saw an overhaul in education due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. It wasvery difficult and challenging but at the same time a learning period for both the faculty and students.
Online classes to a person like me who always struggles with devices was quite a job. In-person is what
I enjoy most, but again it was a great experience to learn the new digital educational order, through highspeed and low internet connections and its effect on balanced study among the students. My interaction
with students made me realize the difference between fast learners and slow learners but as we say Rome
was not built in a day so a day will come when online learning will be a norm in Komatsu University aswell.
The Seminar class was always fun. I am so thankful to our faculty members with whose support
it was possible for students to wear national costume of India and feel the fabric of different culture. An
experience not to forget.
Amid the Covid crisis the USA trip was taking a plunge. Prof. Robert Sanders initiated the study
abroad summer program along with Prof. Dean Haggin of Western Washington University in 2020;
however, due to the pandemic it did not take place. In the faculty meeting it was decided that after Prof.
Sanders’ retirement, the program will take shape under some other faculty, to which I volunteered andtook the charge to continue. It took two years, and finally in August 2022 the summer program wasrestarted. I took this privilege to take the interested students along with me to the USA to have awonderful experience in person. For students, the experience helped improve their language skills besides
feeling the culture. The new environment and some amazing learning opportunities brought a new visionand an irreplaceable experience where students felt benefited. I feel incredibly proud to see a change in─4─

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my students. Though the Covid was a challenge for the students as well as for me, I could not haveasked for a kinder member team of WWU headed by Prof. Dean. I was able to share my experienceswith my students sometimes as their teacher and sometimes just like a friend.
Last but not the least, last November I was given Kokusai-Koryu-Koro-Sho Award by Governor
Hase followed by another award this year in January by the Indian Government in the field of education.
The award was conferred by the President of India, and I am humbled to mention that it happened whileworking at Komatsu University. I am grateful to all my colleagues and well-wishers.
I enjoyed my work and am grateful for having such intelligent and kind colleagues to work withat Komatsu University. I will never forget the kindness and encouragement from everyone including theadministrative staff. I pray and hope that Komatsu University expands and becomes even more successful
in the coming years. I will always cherish the memories with my colleagues, especially the fun we had
after the faculty meetings in the first year of the establishment of Komatsu University.

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