TOKYO, JAPAN — From 24 – 31 July 2026, two students from the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (FPSD) had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a one-week academic exchange program at the Institute for Gender Studies, Ochanomizu University, Japan. Thi Kim Dung Nguyen (Kim), a doctoral student, and Chu Jung Jao (Joy), a master’s student in the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) engaged in the exchange program as part of the long-standing partnership between the Gender and Development Studies Program at AIT and the Ochanomizu University.
As Kim’s research focuses on Vietnamese mothers pursuing doctoral education abroad and Joy’s research explores binational same-sex families living in Taiwan, the program provided an excellent opportunity for both students to deepen their knowledge in their respective fields. Throughout the week, they participated in a series of academic activities with the generous support of the faculty and staff at Ochanomizu University.
Kim and Joy had the privilege of meeting and learning from distinguished professors and researchers at Ochanomizu University and Tsuda University, whose expertise spans migration, motherhood/mothering, gender, and studies of sexual minorities. These valuable discussions broadened their academic perspectives and provided important insights for their ongoing research.
Some of the highlights of the program were the opportunity to meet international student mothers who generously shared their personal experiences of studying and raising children while living in Japan. Listening to their stories offered meaningful perspectives that complemented the academic discussions and enriched the students’ understanding of gender, care, and migration. Kim and Joy also visited the Center for Coproduction of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at the University of Tokyo and the Inclusive City Center (IRIS) at Shibuya, where they learned about public policies on domestic violence and LGBT partnerships. These visits provided important insights into how gender equality is institutionalized in Japan.
Reflecting on the experience, Kim shared: “I feel incredibly grateful for the valuable knowledge and skills I gained through this program. Every day, I learned something new and felt inspired by the passion and dedication of the professors and researchers who shared their work with us. Meeting former Ochanomizu students who were also student mothers was particularly meaningful, as their experiences helped me better understand and empathize with me and with the mothers in my own research.”
Joy also expressed, “The intentional workshop not only enriched my academic training but also provided an invaluable opportunity to strengthen my ongoing research with greater confidence. Beyond facilitating cross-cultural exchange, it further offered a platform to refine my research ideas with meaningful dialogue that inspire my future scholarly endeavors.”
Another memorable experience for both students was indeed the opportunity to present their research to professors and students at Ochanomizu University. The insightful questions, constructive comments, and thoughtful discussions provided valuable feedback that will contribute to the further development of their research.
Beyond the academic program, Kim and Joy also enjoyed exploring Japanese culture through the warm hospitality of Ochanomizu students. Together, they visited various places around Tokyo and experienced authentic Japanese cuisine and local traditions. These cultural activities enriched the exchange and created unforgettable memories alongside the academic learning.
Although the exchange lasted only one week, Kim and Joy returned to AIT with much more than academic knowledge and research skills. They also brought home meaningful friendships, expanded professional networks, and the hope of future research collaboration between AIT and Japanese scholars.
Kim and Joy expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the Gender and Development Studies Program at AIT, the organizing committee, and especially Professor Kyoko for trusting them and providing this invaluable opportunity.
They sincerely believe that they would not have had such a meaningful lifelong learning experience without the dedication and continuous efforts of the Gender and Development Studies Program in developing and sustaining its partnership with Ochanomizu University over the decades. They deeply appreciate the program’s commitment to creating opportunities for students to learn, exchange ideas, build international networks, and grow both academically and personally.
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