On August 4th and 5th, 2025, at the international conference “World Youth Meeting (WYM) 2025,” endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the representative team from Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School received the prestigious Grand Platinum Award, one of the top honors of the event.

The World Youth Meeting (WYM) is an annual international conference that began in 1998 for high school and university students. Japanese and overseas schools form collaborative pairs to research and discuss topics related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through presentations and dialogues in English, the conference aims to foster practical communication skills and a global perspective. The 2025 conference was held at Ritsumeikan University’s Biwako-Kusatsu Campus and Nihon Fukushi University’s Tokai Campus, with many teams participating from both Japan and abroad.

The common theme for this year was SDG 16: “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.” This goal encompasses issues ranging from international armed conflicts to bullying in schools. Our school’s team partnered with students from Kuang-Kuang Senior High School, affiliated with National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan. Through online collaboration, they built a presentation focusing on the following aspects:

• Examples of “hidden injustices” in daily life
• Social and institutional structures underlying the loss of fairness
• Concrete action proposals for prevention and resolution in schools and communities

The presentation, conducted in English, was praised for its clear structure with supporting slides and examples, as well as logical responses during the Q&A session.

Our team’s presentation was selected for the “Grand Platinum Award,” given only to the top three teams among all participants. This prestigious award is a testament to the students’ sustained efforts in inquiry and the dedicated support from their teachers.

During the conference period, the Taiwanese students stayed with host families from our school and participated in both classes and extracurricular activities. The homestay provided a valuable opportunity for mutual understanding across language and cultural differences. This initiative was part of the EX Program for third-year students, with teachers taking the lead in organizing, selecting participants, and providing guidance. It served as a strong example of our school’s international education in practice, offering insights for future activities.

Our school will continue striving to develop students who can address global challenges and contribute to the international community. We deeply appreciate your continued support and encouragement.