Royal Thimphu College is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Yasuo Miyazawa, the Founder and Chairman of SEISA Group. The partnership between SEISA Japan and RTC Bhutan extends to long before RTC opened its doors. Mr. Miyazawa had been a friend of Bhutan for decades. On April 26, 2019, Bhutan held its first Paralympic Day and Miyazawa-San was appointed as Honorary Advisor to the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee by HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, the President of BOC. In 2020, Miyazawa-San was awarded the world's most prestigious awards for amateur radio when the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honored Miyazawa-san.

Miyazawa-san’s Foundation for Global Children helps fund educational and medical programmes for children around the world. FGC also works with several countries including Bhutan to help them organize and train teams for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

In the last 10 years of partnership between RTC and SEISA, more than a hundred RTC students, faculty, and staff have participated in the cultural exchange programme to Japan. Miyazawa-san will always be remembered for his immeasurable contributions to RTC and Bhutan. The RTC community offered prayers and butter lamps for Miyazawa-san on receiving the news of his passing. We remain inspired by his vision and kindness to date and the legacy shall live on for years to come. 

"Understand Each Other

Leave Nobody Out

And Make Friends"

- Miyazawa-San

When I heard about the passing away of Miyazawa-san, my heart sobbed for one of the great souls I ever crossed paths in life. While Miyazawa-san and I had a short interaction during his visit to Bhutan and Royal Thimphu College, his impact on me has been one of the greatest. I have been a part of the RTC-SIESA exchange Programme under the sponsorship of Miyazawa-san. This prestigious exchange programme to Japan has been an eye-opener for me. If I have an atom of knowledge about Japan and how the globalized world operates, I owe this in full to Miyazawa-san. While Miyazawa-san has passed away and left this world for the greater realm, you will continue to live in our hearts. My heartfelt condolences and prayers to family, friends, and all who grieve the loss of a kind Soul.

• Pema Dem, 2018 RTC Graduate                                                 

                                                                              
During our visit to Japan in 2017, we had a session with Mr. Miyazawa-san, where he talked about the importance of inclusion for our society. He said that it has been his goal to have a school that is inclusive and where friendships are cherished. He said that we need to make friends and help them to improve and grow. I think that goal must have motivated him to be a friend of Bhutan and initiate programmes like the SEISA-RTC cultural exchange programme. I hope and pray that Mr. Miyazawa's family is able to get the strength to endure the pain that is in their hearts. 

• Millan Subba, 2012 RTC Graduate 

Kyo-sei- the philosophy of leaving nobody out, was the foremost insightful life lesson Miyazawa-san taught me. During our short meeting with him, he imparted invaluable things that I still graciously carry. Despite being a successful and highly regarded individual, Miyazawa-san was very down to earth and connected with us. I owe Miayazawa-san's sense of humor and humility. Japan was my first international travel, which was made possible due to Miyazawa-san's visionary contribution to RTC. I am beyond grateful to have been a part of this noble opportunity of visiting Japan and meeting Miyazawa-san in person: it will be an experience that will forever occupy a special place in my heart. Thank you, Miyazawa-san, for making a significant positive change in my life. I shall forever preserve you in my prayers. 

• Kinzang Gyeltsho, 2021 RTC Graduate

I remember waiting for Miyazawa-san in his office conference room during my visit to Japan. When I saw him I do not remember seeing him as the chairman but as a friendly neighborhood grandfather who welcomed us into his home. His humility and humor are what I shall remember him for. For the work he has done, in and out of Japan, his legacy shall forever live within those lives he has touched.

• Singye Lekden, 2021 RTC Graduate 

The only close interaction I had with you was during the certificate awarding day and at the Farewell dinner in Japan. You looked at my name and said I did an amazing job as an exchange student and later at dinner you accidentally added too much soy sauce to my sushi for which you immediately apologized. It was a funny and memorable incident and I cherish them a lot. I felt very cared for when you were around even for a few minutes. You were a busy man but you still made time to visit us. We love you and will miss you dearly. Thank you for everything.

• Namgay Lhamo Sherpa, 2020 RTC Graduate

In line with the vision of the college to become an institution of academic excellence and inspire students to become independent life-long learners who are well-rounded, responsible citizens, Royal Thimphu College launched the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) on 29th July 2021. With the establishment of the CITL, the institute aims to inspire innovative teaching and learning culture on campus by engaging experienced faculty and expert professionals from around the world. 

The major objectives of the CITL, aligning with the Royal Kasho on Education Reform, include: 

1. Develop instructional strategies that promote student-centered learning.

2. Assist faculty in designing innovative teaching-learning models for classes. 

3. Encourage collaboration among faculty, student, and academic staff to support their professional development as educators. 

4. Provide a platform for reflective dialogue among faculty about their own teaching-learning insights, experience, and resources. 

5. Assist faculty in integrating innovative use of technology into teaching-learning practices.

6. Stimulate research into innovative teaching-learning practices.

We remain highly optimistic that the center will help faculty and students actively pursue methods of developing, delivering, and improving classroom learning experiences.

With great anticipation, the HAPPY Project was launched on the 6th of April 2021 at Royal Thimphu College (RTC) in Thimphu. The opening was attended by the President and Dean of Academics of RTC, followed by the focal person from the Office of Vice Chancellor (OVC), project members of RTC, Sherubtse College, College of Cultural Studies (CLCS) and Norbuling Rigter College (NRC). The project website has also launched: https://happy-project.eu/

The project is the first of its kind to take place at a national level with a core focus on discussing ways of improving qualitative research methodology (QRM) by introducing new pedagogical approaches to contribute to sustainable development at the level of state, civil society, business, and local communities, in dealing with rapid social change, cultural preservation and promotion, and climate change.

The ultimate objectives of the kick-off meeting were to officially introduce the respective colleges and members, share experiences, discuss about the project’s financial budget & management. During the morning sessions, the Bhutanese partners discussed the plan of action for the project at each institute, conducting baseline analysis of the QRM at each institution and financial management. During the afternoon sessions, all of the Bhutanese and European partners (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), Leiden University (Netherlands), the Institute for Innovation and Development (Slovenia) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) joined via Zoom – each college presented a brief introductory presentation on their respective institution on the first day of the afternoon session. In the following two afternoon sessions, the project team discussed briefly about the Project Management, Financial Management, Partnership Agreement, Quality Assurance parameters, Dissemination & Exploitation plans and upcoming programs for the next three years. The members had an exciting virtual meeting followed by interesting energizers organised by Ms. Mekky (VU) in between the meetings to keep the participants focused.

The Bhutanese members had the opportunity to meet each other in person and discuss their expectations and upcoming events/arrangements. They talked about the project and their aims over tea and lunch. Meeting the European members via Zoom created a new energy amongst the members and they looked forward to meeting each other in person in the future when the risks of COVID-19 lightens.

However, it was emphasised at the meeting to think about ways to sustain the impact of the project past its deadline.  For this, it is necessary to look at the HAPPY Project as beyond the current project goals.

Mrs. Collete Gerards opened Day 3’s  virtual meeting with three presentations specifically focusing Project – Financial – Partnership Management followed by discussions and alignment from each individual member. Concluding statements were made by the main coordinators from all the partner colleges and then we officially declared the in-person kick off meeting closed until another virtual meeting on the 13th & 15th  of April 2021. These meetings will first involve a detailed session for relevant administrative persons (coordinators + finance officials) on project & financial management, then finish up with work-package (WP) activities planning with the WP leaders. With this, the HAPPY kick-off is officially concluded and the project is launched!