• Business Overview
• Outline of the event
• Implementation Report

Business Overview

In order to contribute to the development of higher education, we exchange information on the initiatives and research results of each university consortium.

Outline of the 14th National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum

theme

University Consortium and Volunteers

Date

Saturday, October 7, 2017 13:00-20:30 (Poster session 12:00~16:00)
Sunday, October 8, 2017 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Venue

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (1919-1, Onna-mura, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa)
* A free shuttle bus is operated from Naha city. Advance reservations must be made through the Apollon system.

Co-organizers

National Association of University Consortiums
University Consortium Okinawa

Contents

The 14th National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum Leaflet

(Day 1)
Keynote Speech: 13:15~14:05

Guest Speakers
Lecture I:14:10~15:00

Lecture II:15:00~15:20

Symposium: 16:00~17:45

Information exchange meeting: 19:00~20:30 (Hotel in Onna Village (under adjustment))

(Day 2)
Subcommittee 1 (in charge: University Consortium Okinawa)

Subcommittee 2 (in charge: University Consortium Okinawa)

Subcommittee 3 (in charge: University Consortium Okinawa)

Subcommittee 4 (in charge: Academic, Cultural and Industrial Network Tama)

Subcommittee 5 (in charge: University Consortium Kyoto)

Time Schedule and Venue

Day Saturday, October 7, 2017

*Lunch time for Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University visit participants is 12:00-13:00 (12:30-13:00 for general meeting participants)

Day Sunday, October 8, 2017

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*Lunch time for Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University visit participants is from 11:30 to 12:30
*Please note that the program is subject to change.

Purpose of the Tournament

The theme of the 3rd University Consortium Okinawa held in 2016 was “Volunteer Spirit.” At the symposium, university students talked about their participation in UN volunteer activities, the director of the Okinawa Center of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JOCV) gave an explanation focusing on the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and a local university professor introduced examples of educational support by university student volunteer organizations to address child poverty, which is currently a serious issue in Okinawa. After the event, several of the partner schools expressed a desire to pursue this theme in more depth. This time, I would like to make that request a reality at the National Forum.
The spirit of volunteerism is voluntary, non-profit, and public. Among them, “voluntariness,” which is also the etymology of the word volunteer, is the act of taking the initiative and doing it of one’s own will. In other words, it means not being imposed or commanded by another person or situation. Second, “non-profit” means that you don’t expect to be rewarded financially. However, volunteering itself does not deny the fact that it is paid, and the purpose of the activity is not economic compensation. Furthermore, “publicness” is also called social or public interest, and refers to being useful in some way to others and society. Through support for things that are not directly related to you and have no private interests, individual issues are transformed into social issues. In addition, you can cultivate “creativity” in the sense of fulfillment and self-fulfillment through volunteering, and your “zest for life” through volunteer activities by connecting with others and being appreciated.
In this way, “volunteer spirit” or “volunteer rhythm” has the potential to make society richer and happier than the unpaid activities of individuals and one-sided support for others. It is important for university students, who will eventually lead civil society, to understand it and to experience its significance through practice, in order to improve modern society.
Volunteerism also has the potential to correct the various disparities that have arisen between people. Educational disparities such as child poverty, which have become a problem in Japan in recent years, are mainly due to economic disparities and health disparities among families. Of course, the government and NGOs are also working to solve these problems, but is it really possible to improve the situation just by setting up an organization?
The theme of this year’s national forum was “University Consortia and Volunteering” in order to think about the impact on society of the participation of university consortiums, including university students, in volunteer activities. The keynote speech will reaffirm the theory of why volunteerism is indispensable in modern society and the importance of volunteer education in universities from a global perspective, and the symposium will be held with volunteer practitioners. Hopefully, after participating in this forum, you will be able to get hints for future activities, such as what kind of consortium activities are possible for each university, and what kind of collaborative mechanism can be created so that students at each university can experience the two-way benefit effect of volunteers on “practitioners and beneficiaries.”

Implementation Report

On Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8, the 14th National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum was held at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture) with the main theme of “University Consortia and Volunteers.”

A total of 263 people from higher education institutions and governments across Japan participated in the seminar to consider the impact on society of the participation of university consortiums, including university students, in volunteer activities, and to consider why volunteerism is indispensable in modern society and the importance of volunteer education in universities from a global perspective.

On the first day, a keynote speech was given by Dr. Olivier Adam (Executive Director, United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), a guest speaker by Mr. Agnes Chan (Singer and Doctor of Education), and a lecture by Mr. Peter Gruss, President of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University.

Keynote speech

Lecture I

▽Lecture II

▽ Symposium

   In addition to Dr. Olivier Adam and Mr. Agnes Chan, Mr. Yasuhide Nakamura (Professor Emeritus, Osaka University, President of the International Volunteer Society), Mr. Yasumasa Kimura (President, Tokyo Office, United Nations Children’s Fund) (UNICEF), Mr. Yukihiko Nunomura (Deputy Secretary-General of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), and Mr. Ayaichi Imai (4th year student, Faculty of Sociology, Kwansei Gakuin University, UN Youth Volunteers) and other volunteer practitioners engaged in lively discussions on “University Consortia and Volunteers.”

In addition, in the poster session held in parallel with the symposium, many questions and comments were asked by the participants about the respective efforts of each consortium organization, and there was a scene where exhibitors and participants actively interacted.

▽Poster session (18 exhibitors)

   On the second day, five subcommittees were held on a variety of topics, including “Sustainable Development and Environmental Law and Policy,” “Human Resource Development through Volunteerism,” “From Industry-Academia Collaboration to Co-Creation,” “Community Contribution and Volunteering,” and “Current Status and Prospects of Fostering Student Volunteers Who Can Play an Active Role in Disasters: Case Studies of Disaster Prevention Education in Kyoto and Akita.” Practical case reports and exchanges of opinions with participants were held.

▽ Breakout sessions (5 subcommittees in total)

   The next 15th forum is scheduled to be held in Hakodate in September 2018. Details will be announced on the website of the University Consortium Kyoto as soon as they are decided.
We look forward to your participation.