The aim of the UNU Global Seminars is to enhance awareness about contemporary global issues and the role of the United Nations in addressing those issues. Students and young professionals are given the opportunity to interact with distinguished scholars and practitioners from Japan and abroad, and to explore a specific issue in depth through lectures and group discussions.
These sessions are open to university students, graduate students, and young professionals. Lectures will be given only in English, so participants are required to have a good working knowledge of English.
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production: The Way Forward to Ensure Food Security
Sustainable agriculture is a way of producing food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides fair wages to farmers, and supports and enhances rural communities. It takes many forms but at its core is the goal of producing enough healthy food for the growing world population while reducing negative social and environmental impacts of food production.
The 39th UNU Global Seminar will examine the importance of transforming global food systems in meeting the major challenges facing humanity. Through group work, participants will discuss sustainable agricultural practices and explore how these practices can help ensure food security while mitigating negative impacts. Participants will also be tasked with developing innovative solutions to mainstream sustainable agriculture.
The seminar enables participants to interact with leaders in diverse fields of expertise, raising awareness of the global challenges facing contemporary society. Participants will develop the ability to respond to global issues that have multiple dimensions. Through group discussions and presentations using the World Café method (small-group, interchangeable dialogue), the seminar will also expand the network of participating students from other universities and those who specialise in different fields.
Day 1: Monday, 7 August 2023, 13:00–17:00 (JST)
Welcome address
Keynote speech 1
Concept speech
World Café and group forming
Day 2: Tuesday, 8 August 2023, 13:00–17:00 (JST)
Keynote speech 2
Group Work Session
Day 3: Wednesday, 9 August 2023, 10:30–17:00 (JST)
Group presentations
Keynote speech 3
Certificate award ceremony
Consultation Day: Tuesday, 8 August 2023, 18:30–20:30 (JST)
Instructors will be available online to answer questions related to group work.
Note: The programme and lecturers are subject to change.
The UNU Global Seminars began in Japan in the Kanto area in 1985 with the first Shonan Session, and in the Kansai area in 1995 with the Kobe Session. In Japan, additional UNU Global Seminars are held in Tohoku, Shimane-Yamaguchi, Hokkaido, Kobe-Awaji, Kanazawa, and Okinawa. The expansion of the UNU Global Seminars abroad began with the Seoul (South Korea) Session in 2003.
The seminar is open to university students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) residing in Japan, irrespective of their major. Young professionals who are interested in the theme of the seminar are also welcome, although those working in the subject area are not admissible.
Participants are required to have a good command of English, as lectures will be delivered in English with no interpretation provided. The maximum number of participants is 100.
The sessions will be held online on the following dates:
7 August 2023 13:00 – 17:00 JST
8 August 2023 13:00 – 17:00 JST
9 August 2023 10:30 – 17:00 JST
Please note that participants are expected to join the online seminar, using a headset, at least 10 minutes before the start of each session. Participants are expected to remain online for the duration of the session. Further details will be sent to the selected participants directly.
The participation fee of JPY 30,000 covers seminar documents and certificate issued from UNU-IAS.
The application deadline is 26 June 2023 (JST).*
Please apply using the online registration form.
*Applications may close before the deadline if the number of applications reaches the maximum.
Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application in mid-July through email. The participation fee of JPY 30,000 must be deposited to the designated bank account by due date. Details will be sent to the selected participants directly.
UNU Global Seminar Secretariat
Email: ias.pdt.event@unu.edu
Office hours: Monday – Friday 9:30–17:30 JST (closed 13:00–14:00）
For inquiries, please contact us through email.