Borderless Friendships -The UTokyo & AUW Joint Winter Program 2024 [Full Version]

The Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chittagong, Bangladesh, is globally renowned as a higher education institution that provides liberal arts education to talented women from South Asia facing difficulties in pursuing university education due to poverty, conflicts, and other challenges. Since 2021, the University of Tokyo has been fostering a relationship with AUW through the support of the Fast Retailing Foundation. From February 24 to March 3, 2024, the University of Tokyo - Asian University for Women (AUW) Joint Winter Program was conducted at AUW’s campus in Chittagong, Bangladesh. 15 UTokyo students and 16 AUW students participated in the program and explored a variety of issues surrounding migration, immigration, and refugees through lectures given by lecturers of AUW. In addition to lectures, the students visited various places: religious sites including Buddhist temple, Catholic church and Hindi temple, a garment factory, which is one of the main industries in Bangladesh, a ship recycling yard for dismantling end-of-life vessels, etc. Following the joint summer program at UTokyo*, the students spent a lot of time together and nurtured mutual understanding and friendship. *UTokyo-Asian University for Women (AUW) Joint Summer Program    • The UTokyo & AUW Joint Summer Program 2023...