2024.06.26
News
Faculty of Global Management: Professor of the International University of Kagoshima gave a lecture at Introductory Economics Course
On June 10th, prof. David McMurray from the International University of Kagoshima gave a lecture on global economics of migration during the Introductory Economics course (instructor: George Wang).
Prof. David McMurray is a distinguished professor at the International University of Kagoshima, where he teaches in the Faculty of International Cultural Studies. He has a long-standing career in writing and editing, notably for the Asahi Haikuist Network since April 1995, and serves as the editor of OUTREACH in The Language Teacher, a publication of the Japan Association for Language Teachers (JALT). His expertise extends to intercultural studies, with a focus on international haiku. He supervises graduate students researching haiku and judges various haiku contests.
His published works include several volumes on the "Canada Project in Kyushu" and books like "Haiku in English as a Japanese Language" and "Hospital Departmental Operations--A Guide for Trustees and Managers." Prof. McMurray has also been recognized with the R. H. Blyth Award in 2013 for his contributions to haiku literature.
In his speech titled "Introductory Economics and Migration," Prof. McMurray intertwined economic concepts with the theme of migration. He explained foundational topics in economics, such as supply and demand, competition, taxation, and monetary policy, and connected these concepts to the global phenomenon of migration. Highlighting the historical and current trends in human migration, he addressed the economic implications of large-scale movements of people due to factors like climate change and global conflicts.
Prof. McMurray emphasized the importance of understanding economics to grasp how societies allocate scarce resources and make decisions, using migration as a key example. He also incorporated elements of his expertise in haiku, presenting photo-haiku on the theme of migration to illustrate his points.
Students responded positively to Prof. McMurray's engaging and multifaceted presentation. They appreciated the way he connected complex economic theories to real-world issues like migration, making the content accessible and relevant. His use of haiku to convey the emotional and human aspects of migration resonated with the audience, providing a unique perspective that blended academic rigor with cultural sensitivity. The students found his insights into the economic drivers and consequences of migration particularly enlightening, and many expressed a newfound interest in studying how economics influences global movements and policies. Overall, Prof. McMurray's speech was well-received, sparking thoughtful discussions and deepening the students' understanding of both economics and migration.
