PTJC New Gen Japan-Canada Dialogue 6: Shafagh Razaghzadeh Shabestari – Queen’s University
12 October 2021
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 Japan and Canada.
Shafagh Razaghzadeh Shabestari, a JACAC Student Forum participant in 2021 from Queen’s University, Canada, shares her memories of the conference. She argues that student exchange programs as such help participants to develop transferable skills, which can be applied in any field. They also allow students to establish life-long friendships across the ocean and promotes intercultural dialogue among young people from a variety of years, disciplines, and locations. The 2021 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 online. The forum topic was “Youth During and After the Pandemic: A Proposal for the New Normal.”
“As a Kinesiology student who would like to pursue a career in healthcare, this forum allowed me to learn about global connections and solutions outside my courses. It helped me to develop skills I can apply and take with me into any healthcare field. My favourite memory of the program is being able to make a lifelong friendship with friends from Japan and keeping in touch with them throughout the year […] JACAC opened the doors for me, such as helping me in a healthcare career, as I am now knowledgeable of data analyzation, international communication, professional communication and presentation, which will be very vital skills in any 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.