The 4th Study Program in Iran (December 2019)

The Middle East and Islam Program Department has been conducting the Study Program in Iran since FY 2015, jointly with the School of International Relations (SIR), graduate school affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The 2019 Program was held from 19 to 29 December 2019. A group of seven selected Japanese students participated in lectures and activities in four cities of Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, and Kashan. They attended lectures and had deep discussions with students at SIR.
 
The lecture titles (and lecturers) are:
・JCPOA (Dr. Sadatmeidani)
・Iranian Economy (Dr. Sohrab Shahabi)
・Iran-Japan Relations (Dr. Mehdi Fakheri)
・Joint Student Seminar on “Actual Challenges in East and West Asia”
 (Moderated by Dr. Mehdi Fakheri)
 
In Tehran, the Japanese students visited the Iranian Parliament, the MOFA, and the Embassy of Japan in Iran. At the Parliament, they had the opportunity to have a discussion with Advisor to the Parliament Speaker and to attend a session from the gallery, At the MOFA, they had a discussion with the Director General of the Asia-Pacific Bureau and the Director General of the Bilateral and Regional Initiative Bureau. At the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Mitsugu Saito, Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Japan to Iran answered the questions from the students. On 21 December, the group enjoyed Shab-e Yalda, or Yalda night. This is an Iranian way to celebrate the longest night of the year; some say that family and friends gather to commemorate return of the sun. The group enjoyed watermelons, pomegranates, and nuts with the explanation by SIR students on how to celebrate the special night.