On June 27th, 2026, we welcomed faculty members from Griffith College in Ireland, with whom we have been strengthening academic ties in recent years, to lead a film workshop at the Kanazawa Campus. The workshop brought together students from ICT and the Department of Media Information at Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT), providing a valuable opportunity for students from different academic backgrounds within the same educational group to collaborate and learn from one another.

The workshop was led by Professor Tanya Doyle and Professor Daniel Hegarty from the Faculty of Creative Arts and Screen Media at Griffith College. Professor Doyle is an internationally active documentary filmmaker, and together with Professor Hegarty, she is engaged in professional film production. As active industry practitioners, both instructors brought valuable real-world experience into the classroom, providing students with highly practical and relevant guidance.

During the workshop, students worked on documentary film production using professional-grade equipment. The session began with a detailed introduction to the handling and setup of the equipment. Although many students were unfamiliar with such advanced tools, they listened attentively and handled the equipment with great care, demonstrating strong interest and a sense of responsibility.

Students were then divided into groups and tasked with developing their own documentary concepts based on two themes: a fictional scenario involving a bear appearing on campus and stories related to campus life. Mixed teams of ICT and KIT students collaborated to develop their narratives, assigning roles and combining their individual strengths to create original works. This process highlighted the value of collaboration and creative thinking.

During the filming phase, students received hands-on guidance on camera techniques, lighting, and sound recording. Filming took place at multiple locations on campus, where each group incorporated interview-style storytelling to bring their ideas to life. Each team approached the themes from a unique perspective, resulting in a diverse range of creative outputs.

Due to time constraints, the editing process could not be completed during the workshop. However, the final videos will be edited by the instructors and shared at a later date. Students responded enthusiastically, commenting that they gained confidence communicating in English, were inspired by the opportunity to use professional equipment, and are looking forward to seeing their finished work.

Throughout the workshop, KIT students with specialized knowledge and ICT students with strong English skills worked together, complementing each other's strengths. Their collaborative efforts resulted in a meaningful learning experience that fostered teamwork, adaptability, and creativity.

This workshop was made possible through the generous support of Griffith College. Through this experience, students not only gained firsthand experience in filmmaking but also had opportunities to use English in a practical setting and learn directly from international faculty. We hope that the knowledge and insights gained through this opportunity will serve as a valuable foundation for their future academic pursuits and career paths.

We also anticipate that this visit will further strengthen the relationship between our institutions and lead to continued collaboration in the future. Our sincere appreciation goes to all those at Griffith College who contributed to the success of this workshop.