Support Programs

Sylff Leaders Workshop provides an opportunity for Sylff fellows to deepen their understanding of differences in peoples’ values, perspectives, and opinions, allowing them to make informed decisions on important social issues and enhancing the effectiveness of well-intended actions. The participatory, capacity-building workshop aims to nurture leadership in a multicultural setting.

The workshop consists of two 8-day programs to be held in fall 2018 and spring 2019 in Japan. It will bring together Sylff fellows who have (1) substantial expertise in policy studies or policymaking and/or (2) experience addressing social issues in civil society, private companies, etc. to discuss the “Potential of Trans-border Networking in 2030” through the application of scenario planning methodologies (please refer to the Workshop concept paper in PDF).

Approximately 20 fellows will be selected to attend the first (start-up) workshop from September 16 to 23, 2018, and the second (wrap-up) workshop from April 7 to 14, 2019. The cost of participation (transportation, accommodations, and meals) will be covered by the Sylff Association secretariat (see “5. Financial Support” below).

The workshop will expose participating Sylff fellows to the scenario planning approach under the guidance of methodology experts and provide unique opportunities for interaction among one another. They will also meet top-tier guest speakers with expertise in areas relevant to the theme. At the end of the wrap-up session, participants will make presentations of their conclusions concerning the potential of networking in 2030.

The workshops will primarily take place outside of Tokyo to give participants an opportunity to experience the culture, nature, and history of rural areas of Japan. The site of the start-up workshop from September 17 to 19 is the city of Sasayama, a beautiful castle town with a rich natural landscape and old city charms located in the Kansai region of Japan—about an hour outside Kyoto and Osaka. Detailed information on Sasayama is available at the following websites:

• Portal site for visitors to Sasayama: https://visit.sasayama.jp/en/about/

• YouTube clip for Nipponia, a hotel renovated from traditional houses where fellows will stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1OyAt0xoCQ

Participants will also have a chance to visit Tokyo.

The program consists of two 8-day (including arrival, free, and departure days) workshops in Japan. Preparatory and follow-up work prior to the two workshops will be provided online. Preparatory work will help build a shared understanding of what workshop discussions will entail, while follow-up work will recap the key findings of the start-up workshop.

The tentative schedule for the two workshops is as follows:
Start-up Workshop, September 2018

Date	Activities
9/16(Sun) a.m. p.m.	Arrival in Osaka Welcome dinner
9/17(Mon) a.m. p.m.	Osaka to Sasayama Workshop in Sasayama
9/18(Tue) a.m. p.m.	Workshop
9/19(Wed) a.m. p.m.	Workshop Field trip to Kyoto
9/20(Thu) a.m. p.m.	Leave for Tokyo Meeting with policy research experts
9/21(Fri) a.m. p.m.	Workshop in Tokyo Lunch with Mr. Sasakawa Afternoon & evening free
9/22(Sat) a.m. p.m.	Free time (or departure)
9/23(Sun) a.m. p.m.	Departure

Special program in Tokyo (Sept. 20–21, 2018) includes meetings with policy research experts at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research and with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Sylff Association. Participants may depart on Sept. 22 or stay until Sept. 23.

Wrap-up Workshop, April 2019
(Dates fixed, but activities subject to change)

Date	Activities
4/7(Sun) a.m. p.m.	Arrival in Japan Welcome dinner
4/8(Mon) 4/9(Tue) 4/10(Wed)	Workshop in rural Japan
4/11(Thu) a.m. p.m.	Leave for Tokyo
4/12(Fri) a.m. p.m.	Presentation by fellows Farewell lunch
4/13(Sat) a.m. p.m.	Free time (or departure)
4/14(Sun) a.m. p.m.	Departure

Participants may depart on April 13 or stay until April 14.

Applicant must:

• Be a past recipient of a Sylff fellowship.
• Have expertise in policy studies/policymaking or experience addressing social issues in civil society, academia, or private companies.
• Participate in two workshops (start-up workshop in September 2018 and wrap-up workshop in April 2018) in Japan and complete preparatory and follow-up work online prior to the two workshops.
• Be willing to engage in and contribute to multicultural group work.
• Have English-language proficiency (the working language will be English).
• Be able to work under self-directed conditions during group work.
• Write a report following the program to be posted on the Sylff website.

Applicants are also requested to agree to the following:

• Show understanding for cultures and lifestyles different from their own while visiting Japan.
• Dietary requests will be accommodated as much as possible, but it may not be possible to fulfill all requests due to the rural location of the workshop venue.
• Participants will stay at a traditional Japanese guesthouse (ryokan) where rooms must be shared with one roommate. Some bedrooms may not have a shower or bathtub, in which case participants can use the public bath (or hot spring).

The for application for 2018/2019 has been closed. Please expect to hear from Sylff Association Secretariat on schedule for the next application on this website and by email.

 

This program is offered and organized by the Sylff Association secretariat, which will cover the cost of participation, including roundtrip airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, meals, and such miscellaneous items as travel insurance and visa-related fees. Participants are expected to cover their own personal expenses

2018
February       Call for applications
May 31       Deadline for submission
June-July      Video interview after prescreening
July 13        Notification of selection outcome
September 16-23   Start-up workshop

2019
March        Online follow-up work
April 7-14      Wrap-up workshop