This year's international joint research project (Regional Co-Creation Center Project), the four faculty members are conducting research on short-term education programs for overseas university students, and as Australian university students, we are conducting research with the aim of creating a "model" for an educational program that covers less than one week with the aim of "learning the politics, economy, society and international relations of modern and contemporary Japan in the relevant areas". As part of this effort, we invited Dr. Patrick Jory, who is researching international relations and history in Asia at the University of Queensland, Australia, to conduct joint research with classroom lectures and fieldwork from December 5 (Thu) to 8 (Sun), 2019.

　On the 5th of the first day, we confirmed the purpose and outline of this research at OIST, and on the 6th, we actively conducted reports and lectures from OIST faculty members on the contents provided to students in the actual program, comments from Dr. Jory on it, and discussions.

　On the 7th (Sat), we had a lot of discussion and exchange of opinions while conducting fieldwork mainly in the Karato, Hosoe and Takezaki areas in Shimonoseki, and on the 8th (Sun), the Moji area in Kitakyushu. Specifically, in Shimonoseki, the site of the former Shiken Dock, the Korean Communications Mission Monument, Akama Jingu Shrine, Nissin Peace Memorial Hall, Li Koshodo Road, Kameyama Hachimangu Shrine, Karato Shopping Street, Former U.K. Consulate, Former Akita Shokai Building, Yamagin Historical Museum, Maseki Oshikata Ruins, Hachiya Building in Hananocho, Maguan Station in Hosoe, Sanyo Hotel Lock, Panama Canal-type Shimonoseki Fishing Port Gate, etc. On the way, I bought Monaka at Ume Kotobukiken, a Japanese confectionery shop with a history of more than 100 years, and ate while walking, but Jory was pleased that it was "delicious". In addition, we went from Karato to Mojiko on the Kanmon ferry and participated in Kanmon Straits cruising (approx. 40 minutes), and not only Jory, but also our faculty members made many discoveries and gained knowledge. In the Moji area, we conducted surveys while visiting the Kanmon Straits Museum, the former Dalian route shed, the former Osaka Shosen Building, Mojiko Station, and the Kanmon Humanitarian Tunnel from the Monji side.

　Thanks to Dr. Jory, we were able to reaffirm the potential and attractiveness of the historical resources of Shimonoseki and the Kanmon area, as well as to research and verify the feasibility of using them in short-term education programs. We also found that this educational program for overseas university students has a great potential for use and support not only for students studying at OIST but also for first-year students at OIST. In the future, I would like to summarize the research contents according to the deadline at the end of the fiscal year.

(Professor MIZUTANI Riaki, Department of Public Management)