Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has been running a short-term intensive programme called SIGLOC (Socially Innovative Global Classroom) in face-to-face and online formats for developing social innovators.

We are pleased to announce that the 15th SIGLOC-online has successfully completed its three-week period from July 10 to July 28, 2023.with 45 students from seven countries in Asia and Africa. This report provides an overview of the three weeks of learning undertaken by the participating students in this programme.

Leaflet

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Welcome Session

During the welcome session held on the first day of the programme on Zoom, instructors explained the purpose and flow of the programme, and after that, participating students introduced themselves using slides and deepened exchanges with each other.

Welcome Session on July 10, 2023

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SIGLOC-online Program Flow

The theme of this program is “SDGs: Social Innovation in your Local Community toward Solving Global Issues”.

All participants involved in this program were given four-stage tasks to carry out.

Firstly, they think about sustainable development from an economic perspective.

Secondly, they analyze the problem and make a tentative proposal to improve the sustainability of a local community.

Afterwards, they make a concrete and practical proposal to solve the problem, which will develop the sustainability of the local community.

Finally, they organize their social innovation proposals individually.

Participants will learn from each session and create a “Picture Book” (a series of slides summarizing their research and thoughts using photographs and diagrams) about the social issues they focus on. Analysis and consideration are advanced while exchanging opinions with other participants, and presentations are made at the final session.

Cultural Activities

Cultural activities were aimed at encouraging positive interaction between participants. The students participated as a group and created their own group name and experienced interacting on Slack or commenting on their ideas.

Group logos

Each group held group meetings using Slack or Zoom etc to discuss plans for having meetings, cultural programs.

As cross-group activities, the students also enjoyed interacting with each other by introducing photos on Slack.

Photo Session

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Research, Data Analysis, and Discussion

An overview of each session’s approach is as follows: 

The objective of Session 1 is to discuss sustainability from an economic perspective.

The students read literature and describe a constructive opinion from their own standpoint, and then they proceed with the debate by refuting their opponents who have the exact opposite opinion.

In Sessions 2, 3 and 4, the students worked in a group. Participants carefully and multilaterally analyze the social issues they are working on in their local communities, and repeatedly exchange opinions with group members from a variety of perspectives. They ultimately find unique and practical suggestions for social issues, with the idea that community sustainability leads to global sustainability.

The students compiled a “Picture Book” of ideas to propose solutions to social issues and sustainability in their own country/region and refined their own ideas by giving comments to each other among the group members.

Eventually, they created a Reflection Report of what they have learned and discovered throughout the SIGLOC sessions.

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Summaries & Reports: Presentation Session

In the Final Presentation and Closing Session, the participants presented their “Picture Books” and expressed their proposals and solutions. 

Our instructors were also genuinely willing to provide feedback to our participants on their performances.

Presentation Session on July 26, 2023

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Closing Session

At the closing session, followed by the instruction of pre-course tasks, the participating students shared their experiences with each other.

Closing Session on July 28, 2023

After the end of the entire SIGLOC period, 45 students who had completed all the assignments received a Certificate of Completion.

Summary of Feedback Results and Pre & Post Self-Evaluation Results

NPS (Net Promoter Score)

NPS is an index that gauges the likelihood (rating 1-100) to recommend this activity/program to a friend or colleague.

The 15th SIGLOC-online： NPS 82.2

We conducted a questionnaire with the students who participated in this SIGLOC-online.

Please see the summary of the questionnaire results below.

The 15th SIGLOC-online Feedback Questionnaire Result

The 15th SIGLOC-online Pre&Post Self-Evaluation Results

SIGLOC-online, which can be attended from anywhere in the world, offers a unique and attractive learning experience that is different from face-to-face training. OMU will continue to pursue learning that can only be achieved online and work towards developing even better educational programmes.