IATSS Forum program consists of three main elements each of which is designed to maximize the benefits of the 55-day program, by taking into account current regional and world issues.

1. Seminars and field study:

Seminars and field study cover such topics as society, politics, industrial technology, culture, and international relations. Through these sessions, participants gain a balanced perspective on Japan, Southeast Asia and the world. Seminars include both lectures and discussion and participants are expected to participate actively so as to contribute to the free flow of ideas over the course of the program. Scholars from noted universities and business leaders from major Japanese companies offer stimulating lectures on a variety of topics, providing participants with a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest trends in research and business. Through field study, participants deepen their understanding and knowledge in each field by visiting places related to the contents of the seminars.

2. Group Study:

Group study is thematic, with members studying a given topic. By cooperating together in a group, participants discover various issues, learn to identify, and propose potential solutions. Upon completion, participants are expected to make presentations of their results.

3. Study tours:

In order to give participants the broadest possible understanding of Japan in the shortest time, the IATSS Forum provides participants with opportunities to visit Nara, Kyoto, Tokyo and other cities. Participants gain first-hand knowledge of Japan through these visits, learn about the current challenges, and deepen their understanding of the country as a whole. Participants also have opportunities to plan their trips individually by collecting information about places they are interested in visiting, such as historical and cultural sites, museums, and universities.

Alumni activities:

After completing the IATSS Forum program, participants return to their home countries and apply their experiences at the Forum as leaders in a variety of fields. At the same time, they join IATSS Forum alumni associations in their home countries. These organizations offer a place to continue sharing a wealth of experience through networks of alumni that span a broad range of ages and occupational fields. Active alumni associations in each country provide opportunities for alumni to get together and exchange the latest information from various fields. Alumni activities also include informational sessions for prospective applicants and NGO-type community services such as English lessons or traffic safety education for disadvantaged children.

International Alumni Meetings, which take place in a different country every second year, provide an opportunity for representatives from each country's alumni association not only to report on their activities but also to engage in a lively exchange of views about recent issues that concern them.

Japanese volunteer study tours:

Forum participants have many opportunities to interact with volunteers during their stay in Japan, and such interaction continues following their return home through activities such as Japanese Volunteer study tours. These tours take volunteers to visit alumni associations in various countries for home stays, workplace tours and sightseeing at cultural heritage sites, giving many Japanese a chance to gain a deeper understanding of ASEAN nations and their cultures.

(Photo: Volunteer study tour in Indonesia, 2005)