The collaboration of training international cadets and developing a global internship program was implemented by Japanese maritime KOSEN. In this work, we are going to report the internation exchange programs prepared in collaboration with five maritime KOSENs and Japanese international organizations of shipping.
First, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in the Philippines has developed the global educational programs since 2012. The five maritime KOSENs could invite English instructors from MAAP and request them to conduct the "Maritime English Seminar” for maritime colleges in Japan. It has been a good educational effect on Japanese students. In September 2019, MAAP’s students visited Japan on their training ship M/V KGO (Kapitan Gregorio Oca) supported by International Mariners Management Association of Japan. Here, we introduce the short cross-cultural onboard training and its educational effects.
Second, the internship program with Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) at Singapore Polytechnic has developed since 2008 when the Toba College first concluded international academic and educational exchange agreement. In this program, the maritime KOSEN students joined the Maritime Experiential Learning (MEL) Camp held by SMA. Before the MEL Camp, the students attended English conversation class with native speakers to get used to communicating with SMA students. Also, the students had a chance to visit and to observe Japanese shipping companies in Singapore. During the MEL Camp, the students took onboard a large cruise ship and participated in the lessons and workshops with SMA students.
Third, the five maritime KOSENs and Kauaʻi Community College (KCC) in Hawaii have collaborated since 2009. Three-week program about Polynesian traditional voyaging, specially developed for maritime KOSEN students was held in March every year. The students learned theories of Polynesian traditional voyaging at KCC and practiced what they learned on the actual voyaging canoe of Kauaʻi or “Namahoe” for two weeks. They participated the crew training for Hawaiian people, operated by a non-profit organization for the Polynesian voyaging in the third week. The students could learn not only Polynesian voyaging knowledge in English, but also experience the life of people at the ocean with great nature on Kauaʻi. The program was held for 10 times, however in 2020, the program was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Thereafter, we have developed and started the alternative online program. The students were able to learn the Polynesian voyaging and feel the hospitality of Kauaʻi people eventhough the pandemic situation.