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Overseas training in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 27 to September 2, 2023.

We visited three international organizations such as UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), UNESCAP (United Nations Economic Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) and United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, two Thai Government organizations (Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs), ASEAN Training Center for Social Work and Social Welfare, and Chulalongkorn University.

In this training, besides learning about the role and work of international organizations and governments, participants will also learn about the importance of being in international organizations. The target of this training was to keep and foster the students’ motivations to work for the UN.

Here are some of learning and activities at each organization.

We had great interactions with officials from UNHCR and ESCAP: at UNHCR, the students proposed funding for the refugee issue in a workshop style and at ESCAP, we learned about the activities and missions of different ESCAP sections.

We had a QA session and exchange opinion with experts from Thai government followed after a briefing on SDGs initiatives at various ministries. 

We learnt that United Nations and a nation have different missions and visions for the SGDs, and to approaching them as well. It was a great opportunity to learn about SGDs and their activities relating to the SGDs.

At Chulalongkorn University, we had group discussions on the theme of launching joint projects after students from Ritsumeikan and Chulalongkorn University made presentations on the SGDs.  The students got to know each other in a short while and learn together in good atmosphere.

This wonderful training program was made possible by the network that Prof. Sachiko Ishikawa established during her time at UNHCR and JICA. This training program is a new initiative that started this year and was participated 8 students from various faculties, majors and classes. 

Interview with Participants