Broadening Perspectives: A Student’s Experience at the Cambridge in Japan at Waseda – Conference on Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

“The Cambridge in Japan at Waseda – Conference on Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, a two-day academic conference, was held on April 18 th and 19 th at the Waseda Research Innovation Center. This event was co-organized by the University of Cambridge’s HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for Islamic Studies and Waseda University’s Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies. During this event, scholars from both universities gathered and presented their sophisticated research and promoted academic exchange for future research. A total of 36 participants (cumulative), including students, professors, a diplomatic official, and working professionals, took part in the conference. The conference served as an excellent example embodying the University’s strategic plan “ Waseda Vision 150 ,” which are visions set by Waseda University in an effort to achieve our goals by our 150 th anniversary in 2032. In particular, vision number two, “Research that will ultimately contribute to world peace and human happiness by advancing original research that leads to future innovations”, matched well with this event. As Professor Abdullah Baabood (the Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies) noted in his reflection on the conference, “ In many ways, ‘Cambridge in Japan’ may be viewed as an early institutional model for a broader transregional research ecosystem centered around Waseda University and the Qatar Chair—one that positions Tokyo as an increasingly important global node for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the Indo-Pacific era .” I, acting as a student contributor, attended the first day of this event, and felt the significance of coming in touch with in-depth research and strengthening collaborations between Waseda and research institutions around the world. Day one included presentations on the topics of political science and anthropology. What most stood out to me was Waseda University Assistant Professor Chiemi Kurokawa’s presentation “Teaching Takaful : Sudanese Migrant Teachers’ Narratives through the Lens of Islamic Education.” Takaful is an Islamic concept of mutual help and solidarity. She shared her findings from field research in Cairo, Egypt where she conducted interviews with Sudanese teachers one how takaful is taught. Through her interviews with teachers, she noticed teachers act as students’ parental figures and highlight unity to avoid strong divisions. I thought this value is similar to terakoya , a teaching styles from the Edo period in Japan where all children from any background studied together. Sitting in an audience in Tokyo, Japan, listening to Professor Kurokawa’s research in Egypt enabled me to broaden my perspective. I felt that her research is precious and meaningful as it deepens our understanding of the values that shape people’s lives. During the breaktime, presenters and participants actively exchanged ideas and comments. Some professors gathered in a group and talked until the end of the break. I had a chance to talk with some researchers, and one told me that Waseda University’s faculty includes leading experts in Islamic and Middle East studies. I was able to meet those who teach at Waseda University, and the experience made me want to take their courses. I realized then the importance of in-person conferences because of the joy on everyone’s faces while they engage in conversation and encounter new findings. In conclusion, the conference showed a powerful example of Waseda Vision’s objective to advance research by providing a space where researchers could network and share their research results with the broader public. As a participant, I felt the conference was a wonderful opportunity to hear about researcher’s high-quality research. Even though I was not familiar with the fields of study, hearing presentations sparked my interest and inspired me to study further while broadening my perspective. I hope more of these cross-university conferences occur and that they continue to help Waseda University achieve its current objectives. —————————————— You can view the event pamphlet below for information about all of the researchers who presented. Event pamphlet —————————————— About the Author: Chitose Shindoh Hello, everyone! This is Chitose from the Japanese Cultures Program at the School of Culture, Media, and Society. I am from Tokyo and am currently a Resident Assistant at Waseda International Student House. I hope many students from all over the world will come study and enjoy life at Waseda!

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Waseda University News. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.waseda.jp/top/en-news.