My Personal Growth through the IATSS Forum 63rd Batch

First of all, I am very grateful for this opportunity. It goes beyond my expectation. I told during
the interview that I wish to learn about teaching formats that could transform my students
effectively. I got it here in the IATSS forum. Throughout 30 days in the program, I have been
through many experiences, lessons, practical activity and real case studies.

The First three days of the entire program was about Kashuku or teambuilding. This was the
moment all participants got to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We compete, we
debate, we challenge and we agree to accept everything and move on. What I learn the most
from this Gasshuku is we need to learn to reflect on the experience we all have made so far.
Without reflection, we will forget and everything wipes out. Team Building has paved all of us to
get closer to each other, to have one goal, one dream and have fun along the way.
Gasshuku helps us to come up with the group's logo, objective and commitment for the entire
team in IATSS Batch 63rd.

Many nights and days passed by, we moved to Yokkaichi city and there, we settled and attended
seminars given by all scholars, well-known professors, practitioners and high achiever persons.
We got to learn new ideas, concepts and presentations about Japanese History before and after
World War II, Modernization of Japan under Meiji restoration, the Sustainability concepts,
Human security, Economic Activity and Environment Protection, and Yokkaichi Air Pollution.
Having gone through all of these seminars/lectures and field studies, I understood that economic
activity should go along with environmental protection. We cannot ignore these issues anymore.
To take care of ourselves, we need to take care of our world. Yokkaichi Air pollution is the best
example of wrong human activity.

This was where we all got to know clearly about the term “sustainable” development. This was
the place where we got to know MDGs, SDGs and Human Security. All seminars in
Humanitec Plaza is the place where we, the 63rd batch, learn the concepts of sustainability and
exercise our knowledge by designing an urban or rural village where the concept of circular and
self-sufficient economy is being used. I was so lucky at that time to be in the group who was
responsible for designing an urban city with sustainable development ideas. I remembered,
Berlinda from Malaysia was the most active and creative person. She led the group toward the
final presentation and discussion. Professor Addachi was one of the best lecturers, personally.
He is very positive. He shows his care and focus to the Asia region. He even dedicated time
touring many of us around Nagoya city.

Traveling and visiting all sites in the Tohoku area including museums, towns and industries
affected by the 3/11 Tsunami and after listening to former Mayors, stories from the victims and
villagers, I have learned so many things. The first and foremost lesson is that the natural

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disaster is uncertain for many reasons but for one reason it is very certain. It is certainly gonna
happen again and again. We just don’t know when exactly. Like Toba-san, the former mayor
said, we cannot prevent disasters from happening, we can only prepare ourselves, our family,
and the community for it. Additionally, I learned to make responsive, quick decisions in
response to emergencies or crises, especially regarding evacuation plans. It is very tough but a
good lesson for me. Decisions on raising high ground and seawall were among the important
topics we all had explored. We found out that Japanese people in each town are quite flexible and
open. In some cities, they built higher ground while another kept it the same level but
reconstructed something else to compensate.
The workshop on DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) and storytelling by Aki-san, additionally, have
taught us very clearly about how quick we all need to take action in response to an uncertain
crisis, especially learning about the word “Tendenko”, everyone helps him/herself and no left
behind.

Attending a seminar and leadership workshop in Tokyo was another great experience for me. It
has been a great honor to all of us. We have got to learn about Centralization and Revitalization.
The two important subjects that can never go along with each other, efficiency and fairness, was
the central discussion and presentation. We cannot choose both. We have to trade off. As an
economist, they suggested we should go for efficiency first and readjustment for fairness later
on. While economists encourage us to think more about efficiency, educational practitioner
Professor D.r Kitamura teaches us to balance between the two phenomena. Investment in
Education is long term and helps to boost efficiency. Education is the key to all areas of
development and key to sufficient and sustainable economic development.
Workshop on leadership, on the other hand, added more aspects of leadership and tools to engage
people. What I love and remember the most from this workshop is about the way our facilitators
did. They are calm and responsive. They led the discussion and challenging debate. One more
thing is about the check-in & check-out approach. This method is really helpful for
self-expression, self-discovery, and high engagement.

Another meaningful and last field study was to Suzuka, “Reglus” company. We were so lucky to
Mr. Itoh, the founder, and CEO of Reglus company. After he suffered from an accident, he could
not walk anymore. He spent a year and a half in the hospital. After leaving for home, he wanted
to die many times but looking at his family, his wife and children he could not die anymore. So,
he chose to live and live with meaningful purposes. He started a company, restaurants, and
aeroponic farming. He creates job opportunities for people with disabilities. Significantly, his
business model serves a lot to reach SDGs goals and targets. From his commitment and
dedication, we learned that difficulty/disability is the opportunity. We should never give up
because of this small struggle. Nothing is impossible.

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Lastly, all of study activities, seminars, presentation, discussion, workshop, field study, and
meaningful engagement that allow all of the 63rd participants to enjoy learning and expanding
their professions could not be happened without the great support, caring, kindness, and accurate
work from our beloved IATSS Forum staffs. Since the first day we arrived here in Japan, we
have received good care, clear instruction, a well-informed approach, and descriptive
information. What I love the most is when they briefing us about how to use toilets and keep a
3Cs attitude. It is a bit funny and surprising to me since we, the Cambodian people, often ignore
this toilet and keep things clean. One more important thing is time management. Mrs. Atsuko is
the person who really made us keep ourselves strict to time and punctuality. I personally
acknowledge that all Asian friends, except Japanese people, are careless about time. We are not
well-prepared. We have a lot of excuses. We often delay the work. We prefer fun more than
efficiency. We play too much. But Atsuko often reminds us of the time and with the word
“Sharp” which means the participants might seek to come late but they have to come to the
meeting early at least 5 minutes before the actual event starts.

In conclusion, I completely agree with the central theme of IATSS Forum about “Thinking and
Learning Together.” During the 35 days in IATSS 63rd Batch, we think, we work, we design, we
debate, we share, we challenge and we have fun altogether. We learn and grow together. We
became a new person. We are equipped with new, better skills such as listening, teamwork,
planning, decision making, storytelling and sustainable development thinking skills.
I, personally, gain more knowledge about methods to involve my students in the process of
personal and team development. I have observed and noticed many techniques for team building,
fun activities and leadership skills. I will bring them back home and exercise them in my
classroom as well as sharing them with my colleagues in Pannasastra University of Cambodia. I
will also design a Mini IATSS Forum-Cambodia to continue this vision and mission. Let’s Think
and Learn Together.

My Future Plans
(Based on the experiences I gained at the IATSS Forum)
Mini IATSS Forum Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Introduction
Experiential learning has the power to transform my students and enable their positive personal
growth, self-awareness, and acquire many other valuable skills. Its impact extends far beyond my
students, but their respective society. When I can come up with a project or training that
promotes empathy, social awareness, and active citizenship, this learning becomes a catalyst for
societal change. And that is what most highly developed, advanced and democratic nations on
earth often do.
I envision that when my students grow and evolve, they are equipped to contribute meaningfully
to the betterment of society, taking on leadership roles, advocating for justice, and fostering

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collaboration. Therefore, the training program that I am going to operate is about embracing the
transformative power of learning and embark on a journey of self-discovery and societal change.
Also mentioned by professor Kitamura that the pillar of education is not limited to only 4 (learn
to know, to do, to be and to live together), but also learn to transform oneself and society.

Situation and Standout Issues

The Cambodian government has invested great efforts and finance into the Education sector. So
far, this policy has improved in many areas of education such as enrollment rate, gender equality,
infrastructure and expansion of schools and colleges. However, there are more that needs to be
improved such as dropping out rate, corruption in education, safety of female students during
school time, quality of learning and quality teaching.
From this standpoint, I would love to address one significant issue: Quality Teaching. Our
teaching method in my university is partly traditional and quite old. It has become a stereotype
that students come to school only to fulfill their credit and get a certificate for employment.
Learning in school is not effective at all. I want to challenge this judgment. I want to transform
my students and encourage them to transform their community. Therefore, I would love to
conduct a 10-day leadership training program led by Mini IATSS Forum Cambodia.
The following are my proposed objectives, manpower, agenda, timeframe, and budget etc.
Objectives
- Enhance students’ capacity and independent decision by quality teaching and experiential
learning
- Empowering students to transform oneself and be an agent of change for their respective
community
- Promoting thinking and working together toward harmonious relationship between
human and nature
Human Resources
- 20 participants are recruited independently from a diverse background, gender, and
motivation.
- We will also seek for 5 volunteer members to help administrative work, logistic, public
relations and media, poster & social media posts.
- Hiring 1 team building trainers from local, well-known company
- Inviting 4 professors and inspiring speakers to share their articles/knowledge
- Requesting a visit site to Cambodian’s Children Fund to one day field study about
leadership
Tentative agenda:
- 3 Days (orientation, check-in and team building training)
- 2 days seminars/lectures (leadership workshop and hands-on experience trainers)
- 1 days of field study
- 3 days group work and presentation (4 groups with 5 members each)
- 1 Day Reflection and Closing ceremony (One page reflection, check-out and certificate)

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Budget and Operational cost
- $200 Team building trainer
- $100 Learning materials
- $400 Professors and speakers
- $300 Avenue, room
- $500 Snack and refreshment
- $250 Transportation and Traveling
- $200 Administrative paper and works
- $150 Design, social media post, photography and video
- $100 First aid and medicine
- $300 Incentive for volunteer
- $500 Miscellaneous
Total Estimated Budget: 3,000 USD
Timeframe:
- Program planning 3 weeks
- Announcement of the program in week 4
- Recruitment and results in 1 week
- Actual program starts in October 2-13, 2023, excluding weekend
Expect outcomes:

- Self-reflection and Awareness

- Know-how skills
- Empathy and Compassion
- Engage in Dialogue and Collaboration
- Take Initiatives
- Continuous Learning and Adaptation

In conclusion, I strongly believe and I already witnessed through my eyes, experiential learning
is very important and an effective method to transform people. I commit to make it happen in my
classroom. I will do my best to put all knowledge, lessons, experiences and case studies that I
have learned from the IATSS Forum 63rd batch to my class. I positively envision that I can add
more values to my students and inspire them to have hope and live a life of values and principle.
I will need more help and assistance from the IATSS Forum staff, IFA, and all IATSS Alumni for
feedback and sharing advice that could facilitate my teaching going smoothly and effectively.
Our young scholars, the 63rd Batch, are also the greatest resource for me. I really hope they
could visit Cambodia and share their knowledge with my students in Cambodia. Let’s make a
Mini IATSS Forum Cambodia happen.
Thank you so much to HONDA Founder, Mr. Soichiro Honda, the IATSS Forum & staff, to all
beloved professors, all facilitators, all individual speakers, translators, and my beloved Japanese
people. I am so grateful for this rare opportunity. I am determined to spread the message of
“Thinking and Learning Together.” Sincerely Yours, Mr. Ken Horn