by Misaki
I took part in Partner University Seasonal Program-summer in Denmark for three weeks in June. Although Denmark had more rain than usual and the first week was a bit chilly, the overall weather was quite pleasant. In the first week after I returned to Japan, I struggled more with the heat in Tokyo than with jet lag. During my stay, I was fortunate to be surrounded wonderful people and to have a variety of valuable experiences. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on them here.
I enrolled in marketing course. In this course, we took lectures and acquired fundamental knowledge of the subject. We also had the several opportunities to hear from several entrepreneurs. They shared not only their approaches to marketing but also their attitudes toward working with stakeholders. As I prepare to enter the workforce next year, I found these experiences incredibly meaningful. For the final presentation, we gave a proposal on marketing strategies for a startup company. I chose a tool aimed at improving coastal water quality. We mainly discussed the application of the 7Ps model, customer discovery, customer validation, customer creation, and marketing strategy, and structured our presentation around these key concepts. I was primarily in charge of the customer creation component. Through this experience, I realized how difficult it is to shape how customers think and feel about a business, as well as the challenge of developing effective ways to attract and engage them. Thanks to discussions with my teammates and our instructor, we were ultimately able to complete the presentation. Although the week leading up to the presentation was quite hectic, with preparations, I found the methods I learned very valuable and hope to apply them to my research!
I found it fascinating to learn about the history of Danish architecture as well as the latest developments in sustainable building design.
I also joined English cafe at the local library and went out with friends. At English cafe, I learned more about Denmark, and thanks to friends who took me to museums, I became even more interested in learning about the country. After the program ended, I visited various museums on my own. I also realized during class discussions how limited my knowledge was, so this experience was a great opportunity for me to develop new interests and expand my learning.
I found it fascinating to learn about the history of Danish architecture as well as the latest developments in sustainable building design.
I was able to see the Danish royal family’s jewelry, furnishings, and private rooms, and I learned about Denmark’s history and culture.
Before going to the museum, we stopped off in front of the palace and were amazed to be able to see it
During my stay in Denmark, I came to appreciate Japanese hospitality more deeply and also reflected on both the positive and negative aspects of its high standard. This thought arose when a friend and I were trying to get disposable cutlery from a supermarket to eat outdoors, only to be told that they weren’t available. I love the high level of customer service in Japanese stores and often rely on it without a second thought, but my time abroad made me reflect on whether this dependency is truly sustainable or ideal.
The photo below gives us a sense of Denmark’s high level of environmental awareness.
