On 25 July, Kyoto University hosted the 2026 Summer Qualifying Examination (QE) / Pre-QE meeting of its Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP).
The meeting -- the 14th of its kind -- began with an address from Program-Specific Professor and Director Masahiro Ohshima of the KyotoU Division of Graduate Studies, who emphasized that the event serves as a platform for AFLSP scholars to share their research and social engagement with stakeholders both within and outside the University. He was followed by Waseda University Professor Emeritus Katsuichi Uchida, president of the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) Academic Committee, who expressed his appreciation and expectations for Kyoto University's role in the program.
The main part of the meeting featured presentation sessions, led by Professor Liang Zhao of the Division of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability (GSAIS) and Associate Professor Kai-Chun Chang of the Graduate School of Engineering. Eight scholars, who will complete their first or second year of the program in September, presented their research achievements and shared their social engagement activities from the past year. Following this, four groups, each consisting of five to six members, reported on the results of their Team-Project Based Research (T-PBR), which involves AFLSP scholars and Japanese students working together.
The presentations were followed by comments from the reviewers, who also recognized one scholar and one T-PBR team for their outstanding efforts. The reviewers noted that the presentations reflected a clear commitment to helping shape a better future for society through research and other activities while remaining flexible and responsive in an ever-changing world.
Kyoto University hopes that the scholars will continue to deepen their exploration of cultural diversity through AFLSP, further expanding their personal networks and enhancing their leadership potential along the way.
Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP)
AFLSP was established in 2014 by BXAI with the aim of providing young Asian citizens with study-abroad opportunities in East Asia, enabling them to deepen their understanding of different cultures while gaining the leadership skills needed to contribute to regional and global development.
The program currently accepts approximately 100 students each year to study at eight partner universities in Japan, China, and Hong Kong. As one of the partner universities, Kyoto University annually hosts approximately ten scholars.
