PTJC New Gen Japan-Canada Dialogue 3: Arisa Chelsea Ueno - Seinan Gakuin University

Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research, University of Alberta, is currently working on promoting and celebrating the accomplishments of our academic programs, such as the Japan-Canada Academic Consortium (JACAC) Student Forum, which in the past 12 years has brought together more than three hundred students from both Japan and Canada.

Arisa Chelsea Ueno, a 2015 JACAC Student Forum participant from Seinan Gakuin University, Japan, shears her experience during the conference, which was held at the Laval University, Quebec City, Canada. The forum theme was “Youth, Work, and a New World in the Making.”

“The impact JACAC had on my life was significant. The experiences from the JACAC brought me to the career working at the Canadian company called Shopify. […] And, as a result, it accelerated my career so much higher as a Japanese woman. […] I have been also working as public speaker to empower women and next generation to encourage them to have ownership of their own lives and to achieve something globally wherever they are. [… And in connection to this] I would add that no one knows what your future looks like. Even if it looks very hard and difficult at the beginning, there is always some way to go. Keep trying to find many ways to go. Do not be afraid to fall or be different from others. Be unique. More importantly, do not let anyone, including yourself, to underestimate your potential. The world is broader that we think. Let`s explore it and always say ‘yes’ to the new adventures.”

The Japan-Canada Academic Consortium works to promote and encourage a movement of ideas and knowledge between the two countries. The JACAC Student Forum began more than ten years ago. Over the years, it has explored a wide range of important topics including climate change, aging society, the youth and work, immigration and refugee, and global governance. Each forum consists of expert lectures, fieldwork, group work including research study, group presentations, field trip, etc.