12-17 July 2026, Sendai—The SDG×EL (Sustainable Development Goals × Experiential Learning) Team embarked on the final and most anticipated study trip, bringing 11 student ambassadors to gain firsthand insights into the SDGs beyond Hong Kong.  

12-17 July 2026—As July rolled around, the SDG×EL Project Team proudly embarked on its final and most anticipated study trip, a visit to Sendai, Japan. Dr. Michelle W.T. Cheng, Dr. Norman B. Mendoza, and Dr. Weiyan Xiong led eleven student ambassadors on the journey. The EdUHK delegation was received and welcomed by Dr. Jing LIU of Tohoku University, whose careful planning made the trip both enriching and memorable.

The visit opened with a thought-provoking tour of the Lu Xun Memorial Hall at Tohoku University, where our student ambassadors explored the formative years of the renowned Chinese writer during his studies in Japan. It was a fitting start to a week built around education, resilience, and sustainable development.

Over the following two days, the Faculty of Education at Tohoku University offered our team a series of highly engaging academic lectures. Prof. Akiyoshi Yonezawa opened with a compelling talk on the Internationalization of Japan's Higher Education under Globalization and Geopolitics, tracing the evolution of Japan’s higher education system in a rapidly changing world. This was followed by Prof. Angela Yung-Chi Hou’s lecture on Higher Education and Sustainability in Taiwan, which highlighted the critical role of University Social Responsibility (USR) in advancing the SDGs—an inspiring call to action for our ambassadors.

In the days that followed, our group visited the Nakahama Primary School Ruin Museum—a site that left a profound impression on all of us. There, our student ambassadors observed firsthand the impact of natural disasters on human communities, yet were equally moved by the story of the school principal, Mr. Takeshi Inoue, who successfully saved over 90 students. His courage and foresight offered powerful lessons on preparedness and community care, and he encouraged us to continue spreading awareness. We believe this is exactly what the SDGs strive for: building a safer, kinder, and more sustainable world.

On our final day, Dr. Liu guided us through a fascinating tour of the Toyota Factory, where we observed cutting-edge automation technology in automotive production—a vivid example of how innovation can align with sustainability goals.

The Sendai trip brought the SDG×EL Project’s series of study tours to a close. It was, in the end, more than a set of lectures and site visits. The team hopes the week’s experiences will stay with the ambassadors as they carry SDG-related work forward at EdUHK and beyond.