The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), represented by Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Associate Professor under the Diploma in/Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management (MENRM) and Project Leader of the Youth for Ifugao Rice Terraces (Y4IRT), welcomed the students from Japan through the RP-Japan Forum for Kanazawa University Internship Program on 06 March 2018 at the Audio Visual Room, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.

A forum on the RP-Japan Internship program for Kanazawa University attended by students from Kanazawa University, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and research assistants from the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) was held on 06 March 2018. Dr. Koji Nakamura, visiting professor at FMDS and Project Leader of the Ifugao Satoyama Meister Training Program delivered a brief message, which was followed by a message about UPOU and Kanazawa University Exchange Program from Dr. Atsurou Tstsumi, Associate Professor and person-in-charge of Kanazawa University international student exchange program. Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Project Leader of the Youth for Ifugao Rice Terraces (Y4IRT) project, discussed UPOU’s involvement with the Ifugao community and Kanazawa University. Asst. Prof. Aurora V. Lacaste, Senior Project Team Member of the Youth for Ifugao Rice Terraces (Y4IRT) project on the other hand, presented a capstone project conducted with UP Rural High School students.

The forum also served as a venue for the students from Kanazawa University to introduce themselves by sharing their major and specialization, hobbies, interests and expectations while visiting the Philippines for internship. The students from Kanazawa University also had a time to interact with the UPOU students and FMDS research assistants through a group discussion where they shared stories and experiences on how they encourage youth in their areas to participate in sustainability and other environment-related activities. Trying balut proved to be a fun highlight of their experience with the students and research assistants in the event. (JFDePasion-Guevarra)