I was born and raised in Japan and have never studied abroad, so I was worried that I might struggle with an on-site course conducted entirely in English.
However, in Inclusive Smart Society II, all lecture videos come with subtitles.
Even when I couldn’t catch certain parts, I was able to rewind, review the materials, and watch the lectures again, which helped me fully understand the content.
Also, since I work during the day, the on-demand format was extremely helpful.
I could even watch the lectures while having dinner, allowing me to learn at my own pace.
In Inclusive Smart Society, the ideal goal is to create a society where everyone can live comfortably.
However, through lectures and assignments, I realized that the approaches and methodologies to achieve this goal are diverse.
Normally, I avoid discussing topics like AI ethics or politics on social media, as they can be controversial.
However, in this course, I felt safe expressing my opinions through assignments.
I was happy to receive many comments on my ideas from students at both the University of Tsukuba and Ohio State University.
Likewise, I also commented on other students’ opinions, which made international exchange feel easy and accessible.