Saori Doi

Background and programme development In late 2021, the university’s international division was approached by a foreign partner institution with a request for a programme tailored to interdisciplinary students. The programme aimed to achieve three key goals: improve English conversation and presentation skills; facilitate hands-on and experiential learning activities outside the classroom; and provide a five-week study abroad experience, enabling students to qualify for a study abroad scholarship and reduce their financial burden. Traditionally, the university might have created a customised, ‘a la carte’ programme. However, this approach would have been expensive and limited student interaction to their existing group, potentially leading...