Social sustainability at work: Japanese students immerse in deaf education in Manila

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MANILA, Philippines — Representatives from the National University Corp. Tsukuba University of Technology (NTUT) recently engaged in a two-day immersive experience in deaf education, culture and inclusive employment practices in the Philippines.

The Ibaraki Prefecture-based NTUT is Japan’s only higher education institution dedicated to students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or have low vision.

Titled Beyond Barriers: FSL, Culture and the Filipino Deaf Experience, the short course offered by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) highlighted the significance of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) learning, pedagogical models and strategies to champion accessibility and equity in education and employment.

It aimed to nurture a deeper understanding of deaf education frameworks in the country, enhance community engagement, apply basic FSL skills to communicate respectfully with deaf individuals and evaluate models of inclusive education and company dynamics.

NTUT students and faculty members gained insights into the Philippine socio-economic and cultural landscapes and examined how history, policy and societal values shape perceptions and methods of disability inclusion. The lectures analyzed key industries and their role in employing PWDs. Leadership and management across cultures were likewise tackled. They were encouraged to explore case studies on various enterprises and several organizations with equal hiring opportunities and workplace procedures.

The program included an industry visit to a deaf-friendly employer such as Bayer, a global enterprise focused on life sciences, specifically in health care, nutrition and agriculture.

The participants capped their Philippine trip with a heritage tour of Intramuros.