Eight students of the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities of KDU have been selected for a Study Tour to Japan under the International Youth Exchange Programme (Sakura Science Programme) funded by the Japanese Government. These students were given the opportunity to participate in a 4-day Virtual Academic Programme organized by the J.F. Oberlin University, Japan from the 7^th to the 10^th of February 2022.

The programme was held under the theme of ‘Japan’s Public Transport System and Urban Development’, and it included lectures delivered by the following eminent academics and industry experts on the mentioned topics:

• Hajime Tozaki, Professor of J.F. Oberlin University, Japan – Public Transportation in Japan
• Simon Cookson, Associate Professor of J.F. Oberlin University, Japan –Hospitality and the Concept of ‘Omatenashi’
• Shirou Ogiyama, Chairman of Japan Trade Unions Confederation – An overview of Japanese Railways and Introduction to JR West
• Makoto Urata, Secretary of International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) – New Trends of the Taxi Industry

At the end of each lecture, the students were given an opportunity to engage in group discussions on the transport systems of their respective countries, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. On the last day of the programme, the students made presentations on how public transportation in their countries can be positioned and improved in advancing urban development.

The entire programme was coordinated by Mr. Nobuo Kanda, Officer-in-charge of the International Programme at Shinjuku Campus, J.F. Oberlin University, and was also participated by students and Professors of the Chang Jung Christian University in Taiwan.