From January 23 to 24, 2025, ILEC carried out the 2024 Regional Understanding Program at the request of JICA Kansai. This fiscal year, marking its 6th iteration, the program was organized jointly with part of the JICA Training Program.
On the first day, in a hybrid format with 10 participants in person and 111 online, Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, ILEC Vice President, delivered a lecture on “The History of Development of Lake Biwa and Its Importance.” During lunch, an opportunity was provided for participants from both programs to interact and foster connections. In the afternoon, Mr. Morikawa, JICA’s International Cooperation Promotion Officer, introduced the “Uminoko Project” in Nicaragua. Furthermore, a graduate student from Shiga Prefectural University, originally from Ethiopia, presented on “What I Learned at Lake Biwa and How I Apply It in My Country.” Afterward, the participants were divided into groups to discuss the each theme. The day concluded with a visit to the Seta River Weir, which plays an important role in the development of the Lake Biwa and its basin, particularly in flood control, water quality management, and environmental protection. Participants also visited Aqua Biwa, a facility that introduces the history and role of the Seta River Weir. At Aqua Biwa, participants learned through a video presentation about the contributions of Lake Biwa and the Seta River Weir to regional development in terms of water control, water usage, and environmental conservation. Additionally, from the third-floor exhibition room, participants enjoyed a view of Mount Tanakami, where forest regeneration efforts are underway in Shiga Prefecture.
On the second day, we organized a joint field trip with the JICA Training Program, where participants visited significant facilities related to the development of the Lake Biwa and its basin, including the Lake Biwa Canal, Keage Waterworks, Keage Power Plant, and Suirokaku Aqueduct.
After the program, participants provided feedback, with comments such as “The visit to the Keage Waterworks and Keage Hydroelectric Power Plant was extremely interesting,” “It was fun to interact with students from other universities,” and “I now want to learn more about the history of the development of Lake Biwa.” By combining lectures and site visits, we believe the program provided an enriching learning opportunity for the participants. We hope this program served as a valuable stepping stone for the international students to deepen their understanding of the importance of lakes and the related challenges.
＜Supplement＞
The Regional Understanding Program is implemented by JICA Kansai. This program introduces examples of the Kansai area’s history, development, and experience to long-term trainees (international students) studying at graduate schools in the Kansai area to convey the region’s modern and contemporary growth and development experience.