Encounters with Others: Student Growth through Fieldwork Studies in Rural Areas

Universities in developed countries are required to develop educational programs that enable graduates from various walks of life to play an active role in various fields. Meanwhile, many rural areas of developed countries are in decline. Many rural areas have been trying to work with universities to solve regional problems. However, not all rural areas have universities. The present paper studies how university students from urban areas engage in fieldwork studies and how they mature through such an experience. The author interviewed municipal officials, professors, and forty young people who engaged in fieldwork studies. The findings show that the young people chose careers based on their fieldwork studies. Graduates often visit the engaged rural areas or other rural areas to participate in community activities. Some migrated or planned to migrate to rural areas and start their entrepreneurial businesses, having been impressed by rural entrepreneurs during their fieldwork studies. Rural areas benefited from working with such students, particularly residents’ growing sense of civic pride. Thus, this paper suggests fieldwork studies in rural areas to revitalize declined rural areas with high population mobility.