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The Bangkok International Organization Training Program in Thailand was held from September 14 to September 20, 2025.

 

This unique overseas program of College of International Relations is coordinated by Prof. Sachiko Ishikawa, and the program aims to maintain and improve students’ motivation to work for international organizations while learning about the roles and work of international organizations, and importance of being in the field.

 

During this year’s program, students visited several key institutions in Bangkok, including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCAP, UNESCO, the Microsoft Thailand Office, and Chulalongkorn University.

 

At UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), students learned about the current challenges faced in refugee support and the initiatives being undertaken to address them. The students exchanged their opinions on solutions to these problems.

At UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), representatives provided insights into their daily work and shared valuable advice about the competencies required to work in international organizations.

The session also featured a talk by Ms. Yui Walsh, an alumna of the College of International Relations and current UNICEF staff member working as a JPO (Junior Professional Officer). Hearing directly from a graduate working in the field gave students a rare and meaningful perspective.

 

 

At UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), students learned about the missions and activities of various divisions through interactive quizzes and exchanged ideas with the staff.

During the lunchtime session, students heard about the staff members’ career paths and university experiences, gaining valuable advice and perspectives that are rarely accessible through regular coursework.

 

At UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), students joined a session with students from Chulalongkorn University to learn about UNESCO's work on the SDGs and issues related to World Heritage.

The session covered a wide range of topics including environmental issues, education, and gender equality.

 

At the Microsoft Thailand Office, students learned about real-world applications of AI and the essential skills needed to succeed in a fast-changing, technology-driven society.

 

At Chulalongkorn University, following mutual introductions of each university's efforts related to the SDGs, students were divided into groups for a collaborative group presentation. Each group proposed solutions to pressing SDG-related issues that both universities should address in the future.

The visit also served as a meaningful reunion, as students from Chulalongkorn University had previously visited Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus in July.

 

 

This wonderful training program was made possible by the network that Prof. Sachiko Ishikawa established during her time at UNHCR and JICA. It was very meaningful with a diverse range of students regardless of nationality, major, or class.

The Commencement Ceremony of the Faculty of International Relations for the Spring Semester of the 2025 Academic Year were held at the Osaka Ibaraki Campus on September 23.

We have 46 graduates from the College of International Relations.

Congratulations on your graduations！

From Tuesday, August 5, to Friday, August 8, 2025, a training program was held in Hiroshima as part of the Peace Studies Seminar course. The objective of this domestic training program was to learn about the history of the Pacific War and the Atomic Bombing through fieldwork and to explore ways to contribute to peacebuilding. This year, Professor Kazushige Kobayashi coordinated the program, which included a variety of activities in Hiroshima City. 

A total of 14 students, regardless of their major or nationality, participated in this program. During the field trip, we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony for Atomic Bomb Victims, and participated in a symposium hosted by UNITAR. 

Additionally, students engaged in a discussion session with Associate Professor Toshihiro Higuchi of Georgetown University. Through these experiences, the students were reminded of the threat posed by nuclear weapons and deepened their understanding of peace.  

Moreover, through interactions with UNITAR staff, the program provided a valuable opportunity for students to gain firsthand experience in the field of peacebuilding activities within international organizations and to reflect on their future careers after graduation. The symposium, which focused on the theme "Youth Messages from Hiroshima to the World - Roadmaps toward a World without Nuclear Weapons and Sustainable Peace," offered participants a chance to think seriously about future international security. 

At the Lantern Floating Ceremony for the Atomic Bomb victims, all participants prayed for a peaceful future and vowed that such a tragedy would never be repeated. 

For the participating students, it must have been a memorable experience, as it provided an opportunity to learn from the tragic history of the past and to deeply reflect on peace, something that cannot be fully experienced in a classroom setting. Through such programs, the faculty will continue to focus on fostering students who are mindful of the future while deeply engaging with the lessons of the past. 

A group of 18 students and 4 faculty members from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, visited Japan and participated in an exchange event with students from the College of International Relations.

 

 

Since the 2023 academic year, the College of International Relations has been offering the International Organization Training Program in Bangkok, coordinated by Professor Sachiko Ishikawa. The program is designed for students aspiring to work in international organizations, and includes visits to international organizations and universities in Thailand, where students engage in discussions and workshops.

 

As part of this program, students from Ritsumeikan have visited Chulalongkorn University for the past two years and conducted joint workshops with its students and faculty.

 

Building on this ongoing relationship, we hosted the Chulalongkorn University delegation during their visit to Japan, organizing an exchange event at Ritsumeikan to reunite and foster further collaboration.

 

From our college, 24 students those scheduled to participate in this year's fieldwork as well as past participants joined the event to engage in group work and discussions with the visiting students.

 

 

On the day of the event, a lecture was delivered by Professor Mayumi Ono from the College of Letters, specializing in Regional Tourism Studies, on the shared issue of overtourism in both Kyoto and Bangkok. The lecture was titled “Tourism and Culture in Japan: Current Issues and Future Prospects.”

 

 

Following the lecture, mixed groups of students from both universities engaged in discussions on potential solutions to mitigate overtourism and presented their ideas as a group.

 

Although time was limited, students quickly bonded and actively exchanged ideas from their respective perspectives in Kyoto and Bangkok.

 

At the end of the event, students from Chulalongkorn University performed a traditional Thai dance, creating a meaningful moment of cultural sharing for all participants.

 

 

Our college plans to visit Chulalongkorn University again during the upcoming International Organization Training Program in Bangkok scheduled for September, continuing to build on the student exchange and collaboration.

On July 15, we held an award ceremony for two scholarships operated by College of IR.

・The Saionji Memorial Scholarship (Academically Outstanding Students Category)
・+R Undergraduate College Scholarship


Mr.NAGAE Taisei and Mr.CHA Mok Won gave a speech on behalf of the recipients.
I congratulate all the recipients of the scholarships and wish them all the best in their studies.