The UNU Global Seminar series is an annual programme designed to enhance awareness about global issues among college students and young professionals in Japan by providing them an opportunity for interaction with international scholars and experts. Initially an annual event held in Kanagawa Prefecture, the series has been extended to include additional annual sessions in Kobe, Hokkaido, Shimane and Okinawa and, with the Kanazawa session, now extends to the Hokuriku area.

Undergraduate students (junior year and above), postgraduate students and recent graduates are invited to apply; approximately 50 applicants will be selected to participate in the Kanazawa Session. Participants must understand both English and Japanese. The participation fee is Japanese yen 30,000, with a limited number of fellowships available for foreign students studying in Japan. Application forms are available from the UNU Global Seminar Desk at the Ishikawa International Cooperation Research Centre in Kanazawa (telephone: 076-224-0044; e-mail: iicrc@quartz.ocn.ne.jp). The application deadline is 5 October 2001.

The seminar will open with keynote lectures by Prof. Ramesh Thakur, Vice-Rector of United Nations University, and Prof. Yoshikazu Sakamoto, Tokyo University, who will provide an overview of the theme of the seminar. The keynote speeches are open to the public, with simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation provided. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend.

The keynote speeches will be followed by seven lectures on specific issue areas including human security, sustainable development, the role of civil society, and future challenges and prospects for the United Nations. In addition to these lectures, participants will have an opportunity for in-depth discussion of the issues raised during group discussion sessions. A copy of the programme is attached.