From September 8 to 10, 2024, three students from FPT Japan Academy (FJA), part of the winning team of the Global Environmental Speech Contest and Cultural Exchange, along with their instructor, Ms. Murasugi Takae, visited Egypt for a free study tour. This was a reward from the competition, provided by the organizing committee— the Comprehensive Fund of Waseda Educational Research Institute in collaboration with the Embassy of Egypt.

Although the trip was short, it was an incredibly interesting and memorable journey. The students participated in various exciting activities such as networking with students from Cairo University, visiting historical museums, learning about Egyptian history, and listening to stories about rare artifacts. Additionally, they met many Japanese people living in Egypt, interacted with the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt, exchanged ideas at the Syndicate of Journalists, and participated in a Kyogen workshop led by master Kyogen performer Taichiro Nomura.

After hours of interaction and exploration of Egypt’s culture and history, it was time for the FJA students to research, study materials, and showcase their speech skills on assigned topics. Professors and Egyptian students praised their presentation abilities, both in visual and auditory aspects; everyone in the auditorium engaged with many questions in a lively atmosphere.

This trip will undoubtedly be a highly valuable experience for both the teachers and students of FJA. It also reflects the international character of the learning environment at FJA.