Curriculum

Students in Africa

A total of 10 students will be selected from the five Southern Africa universities (two from each) to participate in “the one-month Short-Stay Program” offered at Akita University where they will exchange ideas with Japanese students while learning fundamental resource science. The curriculum motivates students through exposure to the highly-developed Japanese educational and technical systems and includes lectures supplemented by, visits to a recycle plant and, various resource companies, and government agencies. This provides an excellent opportunity to understand the importance of the resources from their home countries to both Japan and the world. However, the timing of international travel is flexible and be safely conducted in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. If required, the program will be conducted virtually with online lectures, company visits, and plant tours.

Short-Stay Program

Students in Japan

A total of 10 Japanese undergraduate students from Akita and Kyushu Universities will participate in the “Resource Fieldwork Abroad program” and will visit one of the Southern African resource consortium universities to attend an approximately month-long training session. (Japanese faculty members will provide education prior to leaving and accompany students on the trip.) The curriculum cultivates an early interest in resource development through lectures supplemented with practical field experience and interaction with resource development companies and government agencies both in Japan and Africa. The program provides the incredible opportunity to experience full-scale resource development ongoing in a resource-rich country. However, the timing of international travel is flexible and be safely conducted in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. If required, the program will be conducted virtually with online lectures, company visits, and field experience.

Resource Science Fieldwork Abroad

Curriculum

Short-Stay Program（UG） 2021～

A total of 10 undergraduate students from Africa (WITS, BIUST, UB, ISPT, and UZ) will visit Akita University to attend lectures and meet with representatives of companies and government agencies.

Resource Fieldwork Abroad（UG） 2021～

A total of 10 undergraduate students from Akita University and Kyushu University will visit one of the Southern Africa resource consortium universities to attend an approximately month-long training session.

Selection of Students for the Master’s Program（UG） 2021～

A total of 10 undergraduate students can participate in the master’s program regardless of participation in the undergraduate program.

Collaborative Training of Humanities (Online)（M1） 2022～

Discussion exercise and liberal arts classes related resource development, such as resource economics, environmental economics, Sub-Sahara Africa development, and international relations, will be held online. This unit is to provide the theoretical basis of research development through comprehensive education in sustainably resource development.

Virtual Traveling Class (On-Demand)（M1） 2022～

Students will attend virtual, on-demand lectures that simulate travel to Akita University, Kyushu University, and Hokkaido University to further foster a basic understanding of resource development.

Basics of Mining Informatics (On-Demand)（M1～M2）

Both Japanese and African students will self-study the basics of resource informatics by using GOOCUS (LMS) (This is fundamental engineering informatics education for resource science students and is a core part of this program).

Japanese/English Language Training (On-Demand)（M1～M2）

On-Demand self-studies by using GOOCUS (LMS)

Collaborative Training of DigiMine（M2） 2023～

Students will receive approximately 10 days of practical experience in the Smart Mining technique that is currently under development at the DigiMine Lab. In Witwatersrand University. This will provide important context to the knowledge obtained through the Basics of Resource Informatics unit.

Collaborative Research Project（M2） 2023～

A collaborative research team comprised of students from the Japan-Africa program will participate in a two-week initiative at the Akita University International Center for Research and Education on Mineral and Energy Resources following a course set by the Consortium of Japan-Africa Resource Science Universities. The team will be mixed of Japanese and African students to deepen engagement and increase cross-cultural awareness. In structuring the course, requests from both faculty members and resource professionals in both Japan and Africa are considered.

Certificate

Graduate students who participate in the program will receive a master’s degree from their own institution and certificate of program completion.