【Report】Educational Symposium co-hosted by Gunma University and the University of Warsaw
On April 26th, a joint educational symposium titled “Understanding Diverse Learners and Language Education: Learning from Poland” was held at Gunma University’s Aramaki Campus. It was co-hosted by Gunma University and the University of Warsaw as part of their ongoing exchange program and community contribution initiatives, stemming from a interfaculty agreement signed last year.
The symposium began with a lecture by Mr. Okui, Assistant Director of the Student Support Division, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan. His presentation, titled “What is Necessary to Support the Learning of Diverse Students,” focused on the current state and importance of support for students with disabilities in Japanese higher education. After that, there were four presentations by researchers from the University of Warsaw. These presentations showcased research projects underway primarily in Poland and across Europe, covering topics such as inclusive language course design, the role of language teachers in multilingual education, the use of 3Ds assistive learning materials, and CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) in vocational education and training.
The symposium was conducted in both Japanese and English, attracting approximately 70 participants, including elementary, junior high, and high school teachers from Gunma Prefecture and Gunma University students. Lively discussions ensued, covering topics such as inclusive education, language learning in multilingual environments, and the differences in English education between Japan and Poland.
As a side note, prior to the symposium, the researchers from the University of Warsaw visited Gunma University’s affiliated elementary and junior high schools, as well as a special needs school in Gunma Prefecture, to gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese school system.
