Program: (APM) Sustainable Agri-Entrepreneurship
Instructor: CORTEZ Michael A.
Reason Why You Decided to Apply
Since I love to travel, I appreciated the fact that this Field Study allows me to experience the culture and various interesting activities of other countries while ensuring my safety. As I am very interested in agriculture, it was great to visit local coffee farms, banana farms, pineapple farms, papaya farms, and so on during the program. By the way, as I love fruits, I ate many fruits that are not available in Japan during the program such as durians, mangoes, papayas and mangosteen!
How the Program Helped You Grow
During this program, I learned agricultural knowledge that I didn't know before. I gained an understanding of the processes of planting, cultivation, and how agricultural products become commercial products. In this project, we combined agricultural and business knowledge, and we submitted our own entrepreneurial ideas for the final project. I myself developed a plan to establish a commercial coffee farm in China, which was well received by everyone in the team.
Message for Students Interested in The Program
This program allows you to actually visit other countries and experience the world beyond books. As the Chinese proverb saying goes, "Reading ten thousand books is no better than traveling ten thousand miles.", and I believe that actually experiencing and learning about the culture of other countries is very valuable activity during your university years. Reflecting on my experience in the Philippines, I realize it was truly the right choice. Experiencing the daily life, food, and customs of different countries not only benefits your studies but also broadens your horizons. If you have the chance, don't miss it!