Cross-Cultural College offers students opportunity to learn about business and culture

King’s is once again offering our students a chance to collaborate with Canadian and Japanese students on real-world business challenges as part of the Cross-Cultural College (CCC).

Students from King’s will join others from Mount Allison University, Queen’s University, the University of Toronto and Kwansei Gakuin University in working to analyze and present solutions to real challenges presented to them by Canadian companies.

The Cross-Cultural College features an on-line component and an in-person session which takes place during February Reading Week. The experience allows students to develop their multicultural understanding and communication skills to enable them to be future world leaders.

All students participating in this opportunity are eligible to apply for the Canadian Experiential Learning Award. Valued at $1,000, this award will cover most of the costs associated with the program.

Isaiah Collins, a fifth-year BMOS and Psychology student, calls the experience “transformative.”

“To have the chance to truly immerse myself in another culture and learn through hands-on experiences was invaluable. The CCC certificate I earned from Kwansei Gakuin University represents more than just academic achievement—it’s a symbol of personal growth, cultural understanding, and the ability to create inclusive spaces for people from all backgrounds,” he says. Collins considers it one of the biggest takeaways from his five years at King’s.

Jack Pemberton, a third-year BMOS student, says he “made a lot of valuable connections, learned about Japanese business culture, and most importantly, made lots of friends,” through his experience in the CCC program.

In addition to the scholastic experience, the CCC program also allowed Collins to grow socially, and to experience Japanese culture first-hand.

“The activities my peers and I chose to do outside of the classroom, like sharing meals and tackling challenges such as escape rooms, became valuable learning experiences as well. These interactions helped me step outside my comfort zone and deepen my understanding,” he says.

Pemberton says he would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested, reminding King’s students that being enrolled in the BMOS program is not a requirement.

“It is not usual for a university to offer this kind of experiential learning, so take advantage. And you get a King’s credit,” he says.

Collins considers his experience at CCC one of the biggest takeaways from his five years at King’s. “Hearing different perspectives on the same problems broadened my understanding of cross-cultural collaboration,” he says.