福岡女学院高等学校の２年生のクラスに国際キャリア学科のグレゴリー・オキーフ准教授（専門：国際協力研究、異文化コミュニケーション、米国出身）が講師として招かれ、「国際協力について学ぶ」というテーマで、開発途上国が抱える広範な問題を取り上げ、国際協力についての理解を深める講義を実施しました。英語での講義でしたが、生徒の皆さんは熱心に耳を傾け、有意義な時間となりました。以下は、オキーフ准教授による講義のご紹介です。
The goal of the Department of International Career Development is to create global leaders who are prepared for the international stage. Greg O'Keefe is an associate professor who specializes in international cooperation and intercultural communications. International cooperation focuses on the various ways NPOs/NGOs distribute aid to developing countries. This process has a better chance to succeed if the cultures of developing countries are understood. Clean water, environmental health concerns, education, and employment all need to be addressed accordingly to create a stable society, but this needs to be performed within the cultural framework of the country receiving aid not the one giving it. This applies not only to overseas but within the border of Japan for situations of natural disasters. In the international cooperation course, we observe various situations in other countries through documentaries and discuss them. Some of the topics we cover are the problems with the relief efforts after the earthquake in Haiti, the need to address child labor in 3rd world countries, and the cultural and employment hurdles that many immigrants in Japan need to face are just a few topics we cover in class. All of these topics give students a chance to see a part of the world they normally never experience.
