Listening to the voices of the community and implementing realistic field education
A bright room full of light, a lotus pond spreads out of the large windows, and there is plenty of openness.With playsets, picture books, nursing rooms, bathing facilities, and other facilities similar to actual childcare facilities, it's easy to forget that this is a corner of the university campus.
"I don't have any character playsets or picture books here," said Sadayuki Tokoro.When opening the permanent room, instead of relying on characters, we focused on improving the quality of play by making use of the original functions and gimmicks of playset and picture books, and wanted students to learn.
In the first year, we will hold a facility opening day "Fureai Time" that parents and children can freely use twice a month for the time being, and a "Child-rearing course" by experts.Students will support the operation as volunteers, but they also plan to hold events organized by students.
"We have been conducting activities to support child-rearing on a regular basis, and the students who have experienced volunteering have gained a great deal from the training. In the permanent room, we will enhance the activities while listening to the voices of the community. I want to provide more realistic education. "
In the future, it aims to utilize it as a place of practice, such as classes that organize play according to the child's developmental stage.
Foster a social work perspective, not just looking at children
"Actually, it is a big point that" Whale Kids "has the opportunity to interact with parents such as mothers, which students have rarely come into contact with.
In the field of childcare and early childhood education, there is an increasing demand for awareness of the environment surrounding children, life support, and family support. The biggest feature of the "Children's Welfare Course" is that it is in the integrated welfare department, and we aim to develop childcare professionals who have such a welfare perspective = social work perspective. "
In fact, in the "Child Welfare Course", not only the fields related to childcare, but also the social welfare system to learn how a happy society should be, understanding of people with diverse needs such as community and community development, volunteering, and gender, and social work. There is a curriculum that allows you to acquire a broad perspective that considers society as a whole, such as basic skills.There are many opportunities for practice such as community volunteer training and participation in sports events for people with disabilities.
"Some students go on to support children in a different way from nursery teachers, such as child guidance centers, from the awareness of problems that have sprung up through such a wide range of learning. I want you to learn the perspective of seeing yourself as a consumer. "
Utilizing the environment unique to an international university, becoming a human resource with a multicultural understanding
Another thing that will be indispensable in the field of childcare in the future is "understanding of foreign children and parents," said the department head.In that respect as well, the "Child Welfare Course" is seeking practical learning that makes the most of the strengths of an international university.
"For example, there is an international faculty of humanities on the same campus, and there are many foreign students. It goes without saying that we can interact in our daily student life, but we should be able to deepen our understanding by conducting collaborative education that transcends departments. is".Although the specific plan is yet to come, it seems that the feasibility is high because there is already a track record of conducting collaborative education with the Faculty of Environment and Sociology.
We are also focusing on overseas training.In addition to the programs prepared by the university as a whole, the department also conducts inspection programs for welfare facilities and childcare facilities in Australia, the United States, Norway, etc.The aim is to develop human resources who can learn the cultural background and living environment of each country, the latest theories from overseas, and put them into practice.
Childcare x social work x global.
Against the background of these three strengths, we can see once again the high level of educational ability of the same course in the same department, which boasts a track record of 100% employment rate (*) for seven consecutive years.
