Three UPEI students chosen to take part in JACAC Student Forum
Three UPEI students-Megan Hood, Brett Huestis, and Ben MacDonald-were chosen to take part in this year's Japan-Canada Academic Consortium (JACAC) student forum, February 16-24, hosted by York University in Toronto.
The forum provides undergraduate student representatives from member institutions in Japan and Canada with the opportunity to meet and exchange opinions about a common topic of interest to students today. Students are able to interact with peers from a different culture, gain insight into academic interests, and encourage ideas between Canada and Japan. The host institution alternates from Canada to Japan each year.
The theme of this year's forum is 'Current economic dynamics and challenges between Japan and Canada and the implications for the youth of today.' Sub-themes will include international human capital development, the current global economic climate, and economic partnership agreements.
Huestis, a second-year business student and prospective UPEI exchange student, hopes JACAC will help define his economic and social role as a Canadian, and provide him with a better understanding of his own academic and career goals. 'The opportunity to network with like-minded students will provide valuable insight into current economic and social challenges facing Canada and Japan,' said Huestis. 'It will also provide an understanding of human capital development and the global economic climate of today's international world.'
Hood is a fifth-year business student, while MacDonald is a fourth-year arts student studying French and Spanish.
Sherilyn Acorn-Leclair, UPEI's International Partnerships Coordinator, has been working closely with the students to prepare them for JACAC. 'These three students are really focusing on acquiring the Japanese language and learning from their peers from both Canada and Japan,' she said. 'Each one of them has an undeniable passion for Japan-whether it be as a result of them having lived there or planning an exchange or leisure trip to the country-and we couldn't be happier that they were chosen to attend this year's JACAC student forum.'
Close to 30 student representatives will take part in this year's forum. Canadian participants will travel from UPEI, Université Laval, Queen's University, Université de Montreal, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, the University of Waterloo, and York University. Japanese participants will travel from Hokkaido University, Hosei University, J.F. Oberlin University, Josai International University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Kyoto University of Education, Meiji University, Nagoya University, Ritsumeikan University, Sophia University, and Tsuda College.
For more information on the JACAC 2013 student forum, visit http://www.jacac.com/what-we-do/annual-forum/.
