Ujire, October 15: Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College (Autonomous), Ujire, and Community Works Beyond Borders (CWB), Japan, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cultural and academic exchange, professional training and internship opportunities.
The agreement, which will come into effect from October 8, 2026, will remain valid for the next two years. The MoU was signed on behalf of SDM College by its Principal, Prof. P. Vishwanath, under the guidance of Dr. S. Sateechandra, Secretary of SDM Educational Institutions, Ujire, and on behalf of CWB, Japan, by its Founder, Prof. Masa Kataoka.
Purpose of the Agreement
The MoU establishes a framework for cultural, academic, professional and internship exchanges between India and Japan, as well as countries that are part of the CWB network, including Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and the Philippines.
Under the agreement, the SDM Cultural Centre, Department of Journalism, and other academic units of SDM College will be involved in the programme.
Community Works Beyond Borders (CWB) is an organisation based in Japan engaged in cultural, agricultural and community-based activities. Along with initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities for young people in different countries, the organisation also works towards preserving and promoting the traditional cultures and skills of various countries.
Areas of Collaboration
Under the MoU, CWB and SDM College, Ujire, have committed to expanding mutual cooperation across various fields.
As part of cultural exchange, workshops, exhibitions and learning opportunities related to Indian and Japanese culture and traditions will be organised.
Under the traditional arts component, students from the CWB network will have opportunities to learn Indian art forms such as Yakshagana, Bharatanatyam and folk dances through the SDM Cultural Centre. Similarly, SDM students will have opportunities to learn traditional dances and cultural art forms from countries within the CWB network.
Under the academic exchange component, selected faculty members and students from both countries will be provided opportunities for knowledge sharing and academic visits related to various subjects.
Internship Opportunities
With the objective of expanding internship and practical learning opportunities, the MoU includes provisions for internships under the Department of Journalism at SDM College.
As part of this initiative, international students will receive training in media learning, cultural studies, agriculture and community development, including the study and documentation of various subjects and activities.
The agreement also provides for training in various dimensions of media production through the Department of Journalism, including photography, videography, digital storytelling, documentary production, video features and article writing.
Students coming from Japan for internships under this MoU will be provided free accommodation and food by the SDM Educational Institutions, Ujire.
Overall, this international agreement is expected to open up new opportunities for SDM students to gain exposure to international arts and culture, experience cultural exchange and engage in practical learning. It will also serve as a bridge for community-based sustainable development initiatives involving Japan and other Asian countries.
Participants
The signing ceremony was attended by Mrs. Manorama Bhat, Programme Coordinator and Advisor to CWB, Japan; Pooran Varma, Chief Executive Officer, IT and Hostel Administration, SDM Educational Institutions; CWB members Kyoko Okutani and Akemi Tanaka; Sujan Shakya of Nepal, a volunteer with CWB; Sunil Hegde, Head, Department of Journalism; and interns Goto Ryohei and Ikeda Akari.
