Kumamoto University Holds Special Collaborative Seminar with the Mansfield Foundation
On May 26, 2026, Kumamoto University held a special collaborative seminar with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Ms. Elizabeth Baer, a member of the 29th group of Mansfield Fellows, was invited as the guest speaker and delivered a lecture titled “Intercultural Communication and Interpersonal Relationship Building.” The seminar was held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation, and also welcomed attendees from outside the university.Drawing on her international professional experience, Ms. Baer spoke about the importance of intercultural communication and relationship building in global environments. Using Japan and the United States as examples, she explained the differences between high-context and low-context communication styles and how these cultural tendencies influence the way people express ideas and interpret messages. One of the key messages of the seminar was that neither communication style is inherently better than the other, and that more effective communication can be achieved by combining the strengths of both approaches.
Ms. Baer encouraged students to become more aware of their own cultural tendencies and communication habits in order to communicate more objectively and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. She also emphasized that developing self-awareness and confidence in expressing one’s own thoughts is an important step toward successful intercultural communication. In addition, Ms. Baer introduced the idea that communication should not be viewed as a confrontation or argument, but rather as a collaborative process to seek better understanding and solutions together. She encouraged students to respect different perspectives while also communicating their own ideas clearly and constructively.
The seminar also included an active Q&A session, where students and external participants asked thoughtful questions about American workplace culture, communication styles, and methods for developing self-awareness. Overall, the seminar provided participants with valuable insights into intercultural understanding and communication in today’s increasingly globalized world.
Executive Vice President Jun Otani and Ms. Elizabeth Baer
Scene from the Seminar (right: Associate Professor Shino Yokotsuka)
A Student Raising a Question During the Q&A Session
In front of the Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School