Tokyo: Tharlam Dolma Changra, Education Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA),  visited two Japanese universities in Chiba prefecture and addressed the students and faculty members on the Tibetan education system in general and Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) learning in specific today.

Mototaka Hiroike, Chairman of Reitaku University, and the staff welcomed and received Education Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra, Representative Dr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, and Secretary Tashi Yangzom to the University. Kalon greeted and presented Tibetan scarves and thanked the Chairman and the university for inviting her and for the opportunity to address the students.

In the afternoon, Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra visited the Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT). Chairman Setokuma Osamu and the board members, faculties, and staff welcomed and received Kalon and the entourages to the Chairman’s office. Kalon presented Tibetan white scarves and thanked the Chairman and the University for their valuable and continued help in educating Tibetan students.

In the two separate talks at the universities, Kalon spoke on the Tibetan education system and briefed them on the concept and development of SEE learning and its importance to the students and the faculty members of the two universities. She said, “The aims and objectives of education have changed from ancient to modern times. His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama fervently believes that education should be expanded to foster human values such as compassion, tolerance, and kindness so that all sentient beings can live in peace and harmony. Providing good modern and traditional education, over and above, infusing human values, preserving our rich culture, tradition, language, religion, and heritage was the vision of His Holiness soon after seeking asylum in India with the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959.”

Speaking on Secular Ethics and SEE learning, Kalon said, “Both Secular Ethics and SEE learning aim to educate 3H: Head, Heart, and Hand for the well-being of self, others, and all. Information from different sources reveals that great changes are observed in students’ behaviour wherever they are implemented.”

The faculty and students greatly appreciated Kalon’s talk on SEE learning and expressed a desire to learn more about it. Students asked questions about how SEE learning is implemented in adult society and the role of patriotism in SEE learning. Kalon shared materials on SEE learning published by Emory University and the Education policy of the Department of Education of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) with the universities.

Prof. Hirouchi of Reitaku University thanked Kalon for her excellent presentation on the Tibetan education system and the objective of SEE learning. He shared similarities between Master Chikuro Hiroike’s morphology teaching and SEE learning.

Both Chairmen, Setokuma Hiroike and Mototaka Hiroike, admired the concept of SEE learning. They greatly appreciated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s efforts to build and create a better world for all sentient beings. They promised their support for H.H. the Dalai Lama and the CTA in their efforts to build a compassionate world free of violence and hatred.

-Report filed by the Office of Tibet, Japan-

Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra addressing students at the Chiba Institute of Technology

Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra with the students of Reitaku Students of International and Global Studies

Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra with Chairman and the Board Members of the Chiba Institue of Technology

Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra with Chairman and the Board Members of the Reitaku University

Kalon with the Tibetan students in the Chiba Institue of Technology