In its continued pursuit of providing quality education to its stakeholders, Sorsogon State University (SorSU) once again convened with its partner institution, Beyondia International School under the Kurihara Gakuen Group of Japan, for a Mutual Capacity Building Program Proposal Meeting held on June 25, 2025, at the SorSU New Board Room, Sorsogon City Campus.
The meeting highlighted two main initiatives namely, the Teacher Candidate Internship Program in Japan and an English Training Program for Japanese Faculty Members. It was attended by Atty. Mitsuru Tanizawa, Chairman of Kurihara Gakuen Educational Institution, and Mr. Sota Ohata, a faculty member of Beyondia International School. They were joined by SorSU officials including Dr. Jhonner D. Ricafort (Vice President for Academic Affairs), Dr. Vivien L. Chua (Director, International Relations Office), Dr. Telesforo D. Escoto (Campus Director, Sorsogon City Campus), Dr. Susan S. Janer (Dean, Graduate Studies), Prof. Andrew F. Detera (Campus Director, Castilla Campus), Prof. Ma. Elena C. Demdam (Campus Director, Bulan Campus), Dr. Alfonso L. Garcia Jr. (Dean, College of Teacher Education), Ms. Marietta C. Sato (Representative, SorSU Nihongo Language Training Center/SorSU-COT Faculty), along with respective University International Relations coordinators and selected faculty members.
The meeting centered on potential exchange programs in early childhood and elementary teacher education with the acceptance of SorSU practicum students into Kurihara Gakuen’s early childhood and elementary education institutions in Japan for a three-month internship. And, implementation of English language training programs for Japanese teachers, to be facilitated by SorSU’s English faculty for a duration of 3–4 weeks.
During the open forum, both parties reviewed the proposed programs and discussed key areas such as structure of Japan’s teacher practicum system, cultural and pedagogical foundations of group-based education, Japan’s ongoing shift from traditional teaching methods to inquiry- and coaching-based approaches, and a comparative view of early childhood and elementary education practices in Japan and the Philippines. Expectations were also exchanged regarding the future implementation and sustainability of the program.
Atty. Tanizawa and Mr. Ohata also paid a courtesy visit to SorSU President, Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus, where they briefly discussed the meeting outcomes. They jointly described the discussions as highly productive and expressed optimism about the partnership’s progress toward fruition.
This strategic collaboration further reinforces SorSU’s commitment to expanding its international partnerships, strengthening language and cultural exchange through its established SorSU Nihongo Language Training Center, and enhancing the quality of teacher education across its campuses. (SorSU PIO)
