The 2nd JICUF SWC 2026 Held at Lake Motosu!
From August 26 to 28, 2026, JICUF held its second Summer Waterside Camp (SWC) at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture. With the support of Professor Masao Higashiyama of ICU’s Health and Physical Education Program, who also collaborated with us last year, a total of 23 students participated in the camp. Participants included ICU students as well as students with refugee backgrounds who are currently studying at universities and Japanese language schools in Japan through the Japan Education Pathways (JEP) and Japanese Language School Pathways program. One of the changes to this year’s camp was the participation of several ICU students who had attended last year’s SWC and returnedas student staff […]
JICUF Supports Conference on Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea
A conference titled “Exploring Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea and Beyond” was held at the Embassy of Canada to Korea in Seoul on July 29-30. As a member of the Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways, JICUF contributed to its planning, which began a year earlier.
USSI Scholar Alyssa Emiko Kimura Reflects on Her ICU Journey
Alyssa Kimura received JICUF’s U.S. Scholars Initiative scholarship for four years, and graduated this year. During her senior year, she served as a JICUF Student Ambassador. We asked her to reflect on her time at ICU.
SSI Scholar Hazem Majeek Graduates from ICU
Hazem Majeek, the final recipient of the Syrian Scholars Initiative (SSI) scholarship, graduated from ICU in July. With his graduation, SSI comes to a close. The program has since been replaced by Japan Education Pathways (JEP), which continues to support students impacted by war.
SDG Projects Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh
JICUF SDG Project Spotlight: Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh “Clean Water and Good Health for a Brighter Future” -Project Reflection & Future Outlook Mohammed Nchota Chetgoh, a recipient of the Spring 2025 SDG Project Grant, is an international student from Cameroon. His project aims to improve the living conditions of children residing in two orphanages in his hometown of Yaoundé, Cameroon: Centre des Handicapés Etoug Ebe and Sainte Rita OP. Through initiatives such as installing water purification filters and providing education on environmental hygiene, Mohammed works to create a healthier and safer environment for the children. Last summer, Mohammed traveled to Cameroon to implement his project. We asked him to share his […]
JICUF Publishes 2025 Impact Report
JICUF is pleased to share our 2025 Impact Report. The feature story (p.10-21) focuses on the launch of two new student fellowship programs: the Global Citizen Fellowship and the Othmer Research Fellowship. Click here or the image below to read this year’s Impact Report. JICUF is pleased to share our 2025 Impact Report. The feature story (p.10-21) focuses on the launch of two new JICUF student fellowship programs: the Global Citizen Fellowship and the Othmer Research Fellowship. Click the image below or click here to read this year’s Impact Report.
Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi
From left: Kae Takagi, Prof. Yamaguchi, Ai Kimura, and Asahi Igarashi Faculty Grant Spotlight: Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies During the Fall 2025 faculty grant cycle, Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi of ICU’s Department of Society, Culture, and Media was awarded a JICUF Faculty Grant. The grant enabled Professor Yamaguchi to bring a group of students with her to India in March of this year to conduct collaborative field research. The project, titled “Bridging Japan and India through Student-Led Fieldwork on Public Interest Technologies,” explored the concept of Public Interest Technologies (PIT)—technologies that contribute to social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethical governance—and examined […]
Nurturing Global Citizens: The Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program at ICU
Photo by Kyoka Horiuchi “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.” – Abraham Lincoln, Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862 From May 24 to June 5, 2026, twelve students from Parami University in Myanmar traveled to Japan to participate in the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program at ICU. Made possible through a partnership between JICUF, Parami University, ICU, and Volunteers in Asia (VIA), the program brought together students, educators, and community leaders for nearly two weeks of learning, […]
Global Citizen Fellowship 2026 Launches Second Year with Diverse Cohort and Spring Retreat
On April 4, 2026, JICUF officially launched the second year of the Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) with a kickoff event at ICU. The eight-month fellowship brings together students from Japanese universities who are committed to deepening their understanding of themselves, the world around them, and their responsibility to contribute to the well-being of humanity. A scene from the kickoff meeting (Photo by Kyoka Horiuchi)Fully funded by JICUF, the fellowship combines two weekend retreats in Japan, a two-and-a-half-week intensive program in New York City, a social impact project, individual coaching, and peer learning opportunities. Through these interconnected experiences, fellows are challenged to better understand themselves, engage thoughtfully with the […]
Alumni Stories No. 28 – Dr. Keigi Fujiwara
Born the son of the head priest in a temple in Shimane, Dr. Keigi Fujiawara studied biology at ICU and graduated in 1968. He went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and began an illustrious career as a faculty member at the Harvard Medical School, the University of Rochester, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center among others. We asked Dr. Fujiwara to write about his life, including how the heir to a Buddhist temple ended up at ICU, and built his career in the U.S.