Japan and Canada Academic Consortium Annual Student Forum

About the program

Forum Dates: February 20 to March 1, 2023

Where: Chiba & Tokyo, Japan

Each year, JACAC member institutions host a free one-week student forum for undergraduate students. This is an opportunity to collaborate with students from all over Canada and Japan to come together to find real world solutions to complex, modern problems. With mixed-teams involving students from both Canadian and Japanese universities, the forum consists of the following:

Expert lectures & discussions
Group work based on the conference themes as part of a simulation module,
Wherein student groups assume the role of various G-7 member-states
Pre-assignment to prepare for group work related to the simulation
Final individual report

Theme: Canada and Japan: Towards 100 years of diplomatic relations

JACAC will be held for the last time in its current format in February 2023. For this final forum, we will be looking back at the history of relations between Canada and Japan, as well as looking forward to how the two countries can strengthen relations in the future. We have four academic sessions that will look at specific key themes such as societal changes, gender issues, aspects of volunteering and community involvement, and the environment. Each session will be composed of a lecture and a workshop where students will actively discuss and share ideas on these four broad themes. We are also pleased to offer a selection of cultural events, exchange activities and a tour of Tokyo.

With mixed teams involving students from both Canadian and Japanese universities, the forum consists of the following:

Lectures by experts
Group work based on different subtopics
Pre-assignment to prepare for group work
Final presentation
Final report

Questions to be addressed during the forum may include, but not limited to:

In an age when the difference between natural and anthropogenic disasters is not self-evident, how will our culture and aesthetics be transformed?
What kind of relationship can we find between the geophysical environment and literary production in Japan?
How would a disaster like 3/11 affect literary expression?
What are some key landmarks in Canada-Japan relations over the last 100 years?
What are similar and different societal challenges that Canada and Japan will face in the near future?
What kinds of activities can people engage in to influence government and public policies?
What are the challenges that hinder women and minorities’ political participation and representation in decision-making and governance?
What can be done to help advance women’s political participation and representation, and achieve gender equality?
What are common volunteer activities for students?
What specifically did you do as a volunteer? How did the activity change your attitude towards others?

Your presentation video will be shared with your universities and government representatives in Canada and Japan.

Get more information on the forum from the Japan-Canada Academic Consortium website.

Eligibility

Conditions for Selection of Participants

Undergraduate students or graduate students enrolled in the JACAC member institutions are eligible to apply, though priority will be given to senior undergraduate students. Successful applicants should demonstrate a strong academic performance, interest and experiences in extra-curricular activities, and be a good team-player. They must fulfill all of the following requirements:

Approximately 12 participants each from Japan and Canada will be selected. As a rule, we recommend one participant and one alternate from each JACAC member institution.
Proficient enough in English to prepare materials, participate in discussions, and deliver presentations
Highly motivated students who possess a strong interest in the applicable year’s forum theme. Prior to the forum, participants should prepare themselves for fruitful discussion by researching on a specific topic of their interest relevant to the main theme
Students with previous year’s academic score above JASSO GPA 2.0 will be given priority
No withdrawal will be allowed after participants are selected. Students must fully understand the requirements and the details of the program before submitting their applications.

Costs and Fees

The forum offers free participation.

How to apply

Canadian students should submit the following to their own universities.

Complete application follow this link: https://www.jacac.com/what-we-do/annual-forum/2023-jacac-student-forum-i..., and download the "Canadian Application Form"
Statement of Intent: 500 words maximum. Please be sure to include:

How this program will benefit you in your current academic program
Any experience working in a team

All documents must be submitted by email to go.global@ubc.ca by October 20, 2022 at 4:00 pm.

We thank all applicants for their interests; however, only those individuals selected for
participation in the forum will be contacted.