The Department of Architecture and Design at Japan Women's University (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) sent four students (one fourth-year student and three third-year students) to Jakarta, Indonesia, for an overseas training program organized by the Japan Building Center Foundation.
The Japan Building Center is an organization established with the aim of evaluating, developing, researching, and disseminating information on Japanese architectural technologies, and also contributes to international exchange and international cooperation in architectural technology. Japan Women's University has been offering a sponsored course, "Sustainable Society and Architectural Design," annually since 2024, with the aim of promoting university-wide global education.
With the aim of honing students' international sensibilities, this training program included attending the "Sustainable Housing, Architecture, and Urban Policy Seminar" on January 26, 2026, which was attended by government officials, private companies, and academics from Japan and Indonesia. Students also participated in the operation of the seminar, including handling registration and taking minutes for the panel discussion. The following day, the 27th, they visited "BRANZ Mega Kuningan," an urban mixed-use development project by Tokyu Land Corporation. Afterwards, each student presented their learnings from the program in a presentation format.
One participating student reflected, "I realized that there are many challenges common to both Indonesia and Japan regarding sustainability and housing supply. In addition, I learned that in order to solve a problem, it is important to look at the underlying factors such as the country, local government, and systems, not just the issue itself, and to think from multiple perspectives. I also gained many insights from the Jakarta cityscape that unfolded before me as I drove from the airport to the seminar venue, and I was reminded of the significance of actually visiting the country and the place."
The Department of Architecture and Design at Japan Women's University will continue to promote initiatives to foster students' international awareness through overseas training and workshops with overseas universities and other institutions.
