There are more than 400 diverse students are enrolled in “Future-Creation (MIRAI)” Course.
In this section, we will focus on students who are engaged in unique activities and introduce their achievements and activities from their own perspectives.
The 14th student is Shinichiro Koga (D1) of the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society.
From Experience to Research, From Research to Society
During my undergraduate years, I studied abroad at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. I also had opportunities to work as a guest teacher at junior high schools, high schools, and universities in six countries. After returning to Japan, I worked as an elementary school teacher in my home prefecture of Fukuoka and obtained a national qualification as a Certified Social Worker.
The starting point of my current research was an experience I had while working as a teacher. I saw a child with a disability sadly tell his classmates, “I’m not smart, so I have to study somewhere different from everyone else.” That experience stayed with me and inspired me to pursue graduate studies in the hope that my research could help children with disabilities.
I have studied economics, education, and social welfare, and I am currently focusing on social welfare from a geographical perspective. Researching across different academic disciplines can be challenging, and I sometimes feel uncertain about how deeply I can develop my research within the limited time available. However, having returned to graduate school after working professionally, I have come to appreciate the value of time more strongly than before.
I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my research at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, my home prefecture, a place to which I feel a strong sense of attachment. With the support of my professors and friends, I continue to devote myself to my research each day. Even within the limited time available, I hope to take things one step at a time and develop research that can contribute to society.
