Current Social Issues in East Asia: Aging Societies and the Role of Women

12-23 In August, the University of Tartu hosted an English summer and doctoral school “Current Social Issues in East Asia: Aging Societies and the Role of Women”. The major social problems in East Asia were discussed by students from the USA, China, Japan and Lithuania.

A summer and doctoral school focusing on aging, labor market changes, the role of women, family politics and issues related to femininity brought to Tartu students from all over the world. Japanese and Chinese students were interested in learning about specific topics as well as how European researchers deal with the societal changes in their country.

Scientists from Tartu, Helsinki, Tallinn and Vilnius University gave lectures and seminars in the Summer and Doctoral School organized by the University of Tartu Asia Centre and the Lifelong Learning Centre. As the most memorable and important theme, students highlighted a presentation by Ene Selart (UT) entitled "Haunting past: the issue of WW II comfort women in present day Japan", Quan HN Trani (UT) on Vientam's two children politics and Pille Tsopp-Pagan's discussion on domestic violence In Estonia and Europe.

Among the leisure activities that were added to the academic activities, the most important ones were visiting Tallinn, watching the “Singing Revolution” on the anniversary of the Baltic Way, and sailing on the River Emajõgi.

The Summer and Doctoral School "Current Social Issues in East Asia: Aging Societies and the Role of Women" was organized and supported by the University of Tartu Asian Center, the University of Tartu Lifelong Learning Center and the European Regional Development Fund through the University of Tartu ASTRA project PER ASPERA.