Short Term Program for Administrative Staffs

• Ms. Aiko Ichimiya

• Ms. Ikuko Fukuhara

• Mr. Yosuke Morii

• Mr. Takuya Tanaka

• Ms. Keiko Baba

• Ms. Yuki Yoshimatsu

• Ms. Shoko Tsurubo　

• Mr. Oda Masaharu 

• Ms. Mio Tsukahara

• Ms. Yuka Tatsuta

• Ms. Mai Kitawaki

• Ms. Ai Nakakubo

• Mr. Toya Kohei

• Ms. Ayami Shiro

• Mr. Ryoma Kawaguchi

• Mr. Sumio Fujinaga

Name       ：Ai Nakakubo
Affiliation：Medical Affairs Division, Kyoto University Hospital
Period      ：2015.1-3

【Operation in Bangkok and  Inpression】

Before going to Bangkok, I was working in the Medical Affairs Division of Kyoto University Hospital. I didn’t have knowledge of international affairs, general affairs or accounting. However, I could enjoy my three months’ stay in Bangkok thanks to the support of the Director, URA, and many other people. I was worried about whether I could contribute to Kyoto University or Kyoto University ASEAN Center. Actually, sometimes I felt my knowledge and ability is lacking. At the same time, I realized my strong points and got confidence through various experiences in ASEAN Center.

 As I could get used to Thai meals, I had no trouble to adapt to the life in Bangkok. There were many chances to meet people in and out of the university, and so I could have precious personal connections. As for language study, I took both Thai and English classes at a language school. I became able to communicate with using easy Thai.

 After returning to Japan, I began working for Kyoto University Hospital again. Recently, the chances to support foreign patients increased, as I moved to a different section. I hope I can contribute to the internationalization of Kyoto University by doing such a little thing. I will always keep in mind the importance of being active and having broad knowledge and viewpoints as I have learned in Bangkok.

Name       ：Kohei Toya
Affiliation：Overseas Affairs and Planning Division, Southern District of Yoshida Campus
Period      ：2014.12-2015.3

【Operation in Bangkok and Inpression】

One day my boss suddenly asked me, “Kohei, will you be able to work in Thailand from next month?”—This is how I got an opportunity to work at the ASEAN Center. At that time I was already in charge of international affairs in Japan, but my own overseas experience was, on the contrary, just three days in Taiwan and one week in the US. Because I had longed for such an opportunity all the time to broaden my horizons, my answer could be nothing but “Definitely yes!”

 Looking back my three-month stay at the ASEAN Center, two things come up to mind: ones is the feeling that administrative staff can function as a bridge between Kyoto University and overseas, and the other is the finding that flexible adjustment / reform of the system will be required for the internationalization of universities.

 I experienced jobs unique to the overseas centers, such as a Japan education fair and an international conference between KU members and ASEAN counterparts. Among them, especially memorable for me is the education fair, where I gave presentations about Kyoto University in front of more than 100 students. In my opinion administrative staff tends to work behind the scenes on many occasions, but it was totally different there: I stood in the limelight. There was some difficulty because I was the only person giving presentations in English (presenters from other universities were basically local staff), but I realized I could function as a bridge between Kyoto University and overseas when some students got interested and came toward me to ask questions after my presentation.

 Also, I found that flexible adjustment / reform of the system will be crucial for global expansion of universities. For instance, funds of the ASEAN Center must be used based on Japanese accounting regulations, but it has to be adjusted to the locale custom too. More specifically, it is usual that Japanese companies make a written quote, but some local companies said they cannot, so we devised an alternative means with the help of the university head office. I also had several occasions to listen to requests of researchers stationed in ASEAN regions regarding the university administration. Kyoto University is already starting various reforms toward its internationalization, and I think the systemic reform is one of the important roles that administrative staff should take charge of.

 Off the job I fully enjoyed the local culture, such as traveling around Thai temples, going on the Chaophraya Cruises and visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In everyday life, I had meals at food stands on a daily basis, using motorcycle taxis quite often and made friends with the local people. I tried to fit in with the local culture as much as possible because on duties I worked together more with Japanese colleagues.

 The opportunity to work at the ASEAN Center enabled me to have totally new experiences and findings. I would like to return what I learned there to the university in my later career.

Name       ：Ryoma Kawaguchi
Affiliation：Account Division
Period      ：2014.7-9

【Operation in Bangkok】

My mission at that time is improving the fundamental equipment of the ASEAN office for actual management of the center. We cooperatively moved to present office from preparatory office. And we purchased some fundamental equipment such as PCs, electrical goods, business supplies, and also coordinated with temporary agency for contract employment. I had some troubles caused by accounting rules overseas and language. I fail to express our intentions to office manager of the belonging building. We visit many banks in Bangkok with director for the correct accounting operation along with university’s rules. However, I achieved my mission thanks to help by ASEAN center’s staffs; director Shibayama, URA Fujieda.

I could have two great experience in Bangkok. At first, I had chance to contact with many kinds of people with different position, such as faculty, URA from Kyoto university, staffs from Japanese academic agency in Bangkok. And I got some objective view of points. Those are

“Kyoto university’s role led by other academic institution’s impression to Kyoto university”
“Staff’s role led by other member’s impression in Kyoto university to staffs”

 These made my role as a staff more clear, and also made myself more active toward working. For people who want to break out being some kind of stereotyped, thinking their career pass, experience in ASEAN center will be very valuable.

 Secondly, I could know self-unawareness. I often faced the situation, “How about Kyoto university?” at the ASEAN office. I become aware that I don’t know anything about surrounding international situation and inside system in Kyoto university. People going to Bangkok must be positive with self-Unawareness.

Not,”I will be forced to deal with jobs I don’t know in Bangkok, so I will not able to achieve working in Bangkok”But,”Everybody feel their unawareness, so I must operate my job actively, seeking knowledge and opportunity I don’t know.”

 Operation in ASEAN center is wide range; General affairs, accounting, human affairs, global issue. Though we will face many issues we don’t know, I think, in an opposite way, we can make use of our experience I had built career as a staff so far.

If you are interested in working at ASEAN center in Bangkok, please give it a try. I hope staying in Bangkok will be valuable for you.