Deadline:
September 30, 2025
Location(s)
Japan
Overview
The IATSS Forum is an international training institute established in 1985 that aims to bring out the best qualities in individuals who will one day become future leaders in the ASEAN region.
Details
The IATSS Forum provides a place where young professionals can gather. Inviting young and outstanding individuals from respective ASEAN countries, the Forum provides opportunities for participants to understand each others' countries through seminars, field studies, group study, and cultural exchanges, as well as to make efforts to solve current issues in the ASEAN region and Japan, under the motto "Thinking and Learning Together."
The Forum Program is prepared by the IATSS Forum Program Committee, which is comprised of intellectuals from various circles. The issues to be taken up change each time, depending on the demands of the times. Inviting top-class lecturers from academic societies and business circles, participants will be able to improve their leadership capacity while learning liberal arts, rather than conducting deep research in specific fields.
Although the program was originally held with participants from one country at a time, several years after its establishment, in 1991, the initial program was changed to the ASEAN Forum, a forum attended by representatives from several countries. During the years since its inauguration the IATSS Forum has been held multiple times, having produced approximately 850 alumni members.
Today, we implement a 55-day program, inviting 18 trainees each time from the ASEAN region to the venue in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.
Application for the 69th & 70th IATSS Forum Program in 2026
- 69th IATSS Forum: *May – July, 2026 (8 weeks)
- 70th IATSS Forum: *September – November, 2026 (8 weeks)
* Schedule and timeframe are subject to change.
* We cannot guarantee which season’s forum you will be able to participate in.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Eligibility
- Applicants must possess the nationality of one of the following countries.
Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam - Applicants should be 35 years old or younger.
- Applicants should have at least 2 years of full-time professional job experience
Target Candidates
We are looking for candidates who display the following characteristics.
- Leadership
- Candidates who have experience leading a team within an organization and a recognition of their own areas of improvement in their own leadership
- Candidates who understand the values of “co-creative/collaborative leadership” which maximizes the diversity of team members towards a common goal working with members from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Awareness of the Issues and Desire to Make Change
- Candidates who have awareness of the issues facing their own countries and communities and the motivation to take on a leadership role for the future sustainable development of the region.
- Capacity and Potential
- Candidates who have broad range of skills, experience and expertise which can be shared and will contribute to the training program.
- Candidates who have sufficient level of English to be able to share their knowledge and experiences in lectures, group discussions and meetings.
- Candidates who have the potential to gain what they lack by participating in the IATSS Forum, and make use of this potential for their own future and for the good of other people.
- Attitude
- Candidates who are disciplined and independent in a diversified environment and who have a positive attitude toward learning from and respecting others.
- Candidates who have a motivation to develop their own ability proactively in a diversified setting.
- Candidates who are clear about what they want to gain from the IATSS Forum and have goals that are in line with the contents of IATSS Forum.
Dates
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
The IATSS Forum pays for the round trip airfare, participation fees for the program, accommodations, and almost all food expenses, etc.
Participants need to pay for their personal expenses.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
