Thanks to the support of the ICU Graduate School, I had a wonderful, unforgettable time in the Global Leadership Studies program in August 2011. The intensive GLS program was nearly one month long and is designed to lead participants to three main outcomes: (i) gain awareness of local and global-scale developments, (ii) enhance individual and social skills, and (iii) develop both specialized and broad knowledge.

The program includes (1) lectures related to global leadership studies and global business, (2) coaching sections for leadership skills, (3) English language sections, (4) roundtable discussions, and the (5) body & soul module.

Based on a liberal arts approach to learning, the lecture topics varied from culture and humanities to technology and sciences and to business. Day by day, the program was delivered by many well-known lecturers from International Christian University, Hitotsubashi University, and other institutions, as well as by famous scholars, famous young entrepreneurs, and by leading professionals.

The coaching sessions were very interesting and useful for improving participants’ skills and awareness in global leadership. Those sessions were delivered by a team of highly experienced professional coaches specialized in executive, business and life coaching, as well as in psychological and intercultural training.

English sessions were associated with lectures in the morning. They aimed to help participants activate English language skills for more effective communication & presentation, improve skills for debating & negotiation, and become more convincing & persuasive in English.

Moreover, interestingly, twice per week, we had “body and soul” sessions which combined both physical and psychological training so that participants could harmonize the mind and control emotions and stress in their business and life.

Last but not least, another impressive point of this one month program was that my classmates are very intelligent, experienced and friendly middle managers from large famous companies in Japan such as Toyota, Sony, Asahi, Toshiba, and Canon. I believe they are surely the promising global leaderships of the near future. Through unforgettable study, discussion, experience and socialized activities together with my diverse classmates, we learnt a lot, not only from lectures but also from other members. We could share varied thoughts, varied experiences, etc., so that each member could develop his/herself more broadly, and could build useful global business networks after this program.

Though just a one month program, I could yield useful knowledge, skills and benefits in abundance. For me, the period studying together with friends in the GLS program was an unforgettable, happy and important part of my life. One very important point that I have to emphasize and really appreciate is the institutional support from International Christian University to JDS Fellows and graduate students to study and acquire relevant extracurricular courses like this program.

Luu Duc Thi