This fiscal year, OGFICE provided its annual training support for two students from the Postgraduate Program of Japan Area Studies, University of Indonesia.
The two students selected as trainees took the Japanese-Language Program for Specialists (Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields) conducted by the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai. Annually, this training takes place in Japan for about two months in summer. This fiscal year, however, due to the spread of the COVID-19, the training started with a plan to combine online Japanese language training in summer with special activities in Japan in winter.
The online training was provided as scheduled for 53 days from July 20 to September 10, 2021. In addition to the live language lessons given two or three days a week on Zoom, classes available online were conducted, including those for cultural experience (Japanese drums).

This training requires each trainee to set their own research theme related to Japan and conduct the research. At a research report meeting, the two trainees confidently gave presentations on their research and answered questions thereon. The instructor in charge commented that the trainees had made very strenuous efforts. These Indonesian trainees also interacted with other trainees very actively and built good relationships with them.

Because the participants were from many parts of the world in different time zones, each lesson began with three types of greeting: “Good morning!” “Good afternoon!” and “Good evening!”
The online training was supposed to be followed by in-person training in Japan from January 2022, but unfortunately, the latter was canceled due to the spread of the COVID-19.

On November 8, a presentation ceremony and a meeting with the two trainees took place at the University of Indonesia. A local staff member of OGFICE attended and read a message to the trainees on behalf of Chairman Setoguchi: “I hope you will make great achievements through this training and grow into valuable assets who will contribute to the development of your university and country, and international exchanges, including those between Indonesia and Japan.”

Professor Mossadeq , the head of the Postgraduate Program of Japan Area Studies, expressed his gratitude for OGFICE’s many years of support. The trainees said they were very sorry they could not visit Japan, but said the online training was very useful and left them with a wonderful memory.
OGFICE held online meetings with the trainees as needed, exchanging information with them and interviewing them to deepen their mutual understanding.

OGFICE plans to continue its annual support in the next fiscal year for graduate students at the University of Indonesia with Japanese language training. OGFICE hopes that the training for the next fiscal year will be held in Japan, to give the trainees a first-hand experience of Japan and its culture.