The Keio–University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Exchange Program, in which Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Technology students visit UCSB and engage in small-group activities with students, has been integrated into the “Global Leadership Seminar Field Study Program” as of the 2024 academic year. This enhancement allows participating students to earn academic credit as part of Keio’s liberal arts curriculum, aligning it with existing field study programs held at Korea University (summer) and Tamkang University in Taiwan (spring).

The 2024 program took place from September 18 to 21 on the UCSB campus. Students from diverse cultural backgrounds formed small groups and held discussions on solutions to pressing global issues such as population challenges, climate change, technology, and pandemics. Through these discussions, students gained a deeper awareness of the importance of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and the value of interdisciplinary approaches.

A participant shared their experience:
“Our group focused on social issues emerging from the rapid development of AI technologies, such as equitable access and the threat of deepfakes. We proposed solutions including the promotion of scientific thinking, the establishment of robust fact-checking systems, and the development of design principles for AI. It was challenging to conduct constructive discussions in English while fully understanding everyone’s perspectives, but our mutual commitment to listening and the UCSB students’ genuine engagement allowed us to have meaningful dialogue. Beyond the group work, I also gained invaluable experiences through interactions with UCSB students during our free time.”

The next Keio–UCSB Exchange Program is scheduled to take place from September 21 to 24, 2025. As the number and complexity of global issues continue to grow, it is all the more important to reflect on and explore the original theme of the program: Science, Technology, and Arts in Global Leadership.