10th JACAC Student Forum

On February 22, the Embassy of Japan hosted the final day of the 10th Japan-Canada Academic Consortium (JACAC) Student Forum. The theme of this year’s student forum was “Japan-Canada Relations in an Era of Global Change.” Students from Japan and Canada spent the week together at Queen’s University, where they listened to lectures and discussed how Japan and Canada can work collaboratively to address global challenges such as aging population, climate change and gender equality. The teams presented their solutions and findings at the Embassy of Japan during the final day of the student forum. The winning team was chosen by a panel of distinguished judges which included Dr. Jill Scott, Interim Associate Vice-Principal (International) and Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Queen’s University; Dr. Andrew Grant, Associate Professor at Queen’s University and 2019 JACAC Academic Lead; Dr. David Welch, Guest Lecturer at the University of Waterloo; and Dr. Takamichi Mito, Professor at Kwansei Gakuin University and JACAC Secretariat.

After the presentations, the Ambassador of Japan hosted a reception at his residence to appreciate all the persons concerned and excellent participants involved in this initiative of educational exchange between Japan and Canada. Senator Munson, as well as other members of the Ottawa communities who work to promote education and student exchanges, were in attendance. Ambassador Ishikane, in his opening remarks, spoke of the importance of education in fostering close relations between Japan and Canada. Dr. Fujiwara, Director of the Prince Takamodo Japan Centre for Teaching and Research at the University of Alberta, and the winning team of this year’s student forum also delivered remarks. The Ambassador of Japan then awarded two leadership awards, one to a Japanese student, Mr. Yūki Takahashi (Seinan Gakuin University), and one to a Canadian student, Ms. Maryam Moustapha (University of Regina). The opening ceremony concluded with a toast delivered by Dr. Jill Scott, Interim Associate Vice-Principal (International) and Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Queen’s University.

A judge asking a question to the presenters.	The winning team of the 2019 JACAC Student Forum.
Remarks by Ambassador Ishikane at the reception	Remarks by Dr. Fujiwara at the reception
Remarks by the 2019 JACAC Student Forum winning team	Ambassador Ishikane delivers the certificate of leadership to Ms. Maryam Moustapha
Mr. Yūki Takahashi receive a certificate of leadership	Dr. Jill Scott, Interim Associate Vice-Principal (International) and Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Queen’s University delivers a toast
Ambassador Ishikane with Senator Munson	Participants enjoying the reception