Exchanging knowledge and culture

Students and faculty from Urawa University in Japan visit Ryerson for annual learning tour

April 08, 2019

Child studies students from Urawa University outside in the snow.

Child studies students from Urawa University gathered in front of the Rogers Communication Centre.

Child studies students from Urawa University participating in workshops on TMU campus.

Group of students sitting down inside SLC holding a sign which reads 'SLC TOUR'

Child studies students from Urawa University posing with FCS students.

At the end of February, 11 students and six faculty members from the Faculty of Child Studies at Urawa University in Saitama, Japan visited the School of Early Childhood Studies (ECS) at Ryerson as part of an annual learning tour.

During their stay, guests from Urawa University had a chance to tour Ryerson, socialize with ECS students, faculty and staff, as well as learn more about family support programs at various community agencies. The delegation visited the Bloorview School Authority, SickKids Hospital, Gerrard Resource Centre and Jessie's Centre for Young Women.

“The best part of the trip was interacting with the students from Japan,” says Emily Ballantyne, an ECS student who participated in the tour. “We learned that we have so much in common with each other. It was so much fun learning some Japanese from them, and they learned some English words from us as well. Google translate helped a lot!”

Students and faculty from Urawa University have been visiting the school on an annual basis for a number of years. In the summer, one student from ECS will travel to Saitama to complete a fourth-year field placement course at Urawa University.