PTJC New Gen Japan-Canada Dialogue 4: Dylan Rose - Prince Edward Island 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 hundreds of students from Japan and Canada.

Dylan Rose, a JACAC Student Forum participant in 2015 and 2021 from Prince Edward Island University, Canada, shares his memories of being a two-time conferee, comparing both events. The 2015 forum was held at the Laval University, Quebec City, Canada, and its theme was “Youth, Work, and a New World in the Making.” The most recent 12^th annual JACAC Student Forum was hosted by the Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research, University of Alberta. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, it was held virtually. The forum topic was “Youth During and After the Pandemic: A Proposal for the New Normal.”

“I think that overall the forum, both in person and online, was a great experience and a great way to communicate with people from entirely different culture, to learn from each other and to gain a bunch of knowledge that we did not have before. It was a fantastic opportunity and one of the highlights of my undergraduate career.”

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.