It's a short week here on campus, but the semester is continuing its march towards finals in a few weeks. If you are celebrating this week, we hope that you will have a safe and happy holiday, and will look forward to seeing you again after the long weekend!
Please note that UMBC's campus and offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov 23-24, in observance of the holiday.
The organization International Student Conferences facilitates three academic and cultural exchange programs organized by university students in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and China. The conferences distinguish themselves from other programs in that they are entirely student-led: students manage the logistics and implementation of each annual gathering. At the end of each Conference, delegates elect an Elective Committee tasked with planning and executing the next conference.
The programs are premised on the belief that students are not passive observers of international diplomacy but rather are concerned citizens charged with the responsibility of guiding the direction of the world as leaders in U.S.-Asia relations.
The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program initiated in 1934 by university students concerned about the breakdown of bilateral relations before the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend one summer month together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting three diverse regions in the host country.
The 76th Japan-America Student Conference will occur from August 3rd to August 24th, 2024, in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Washington, DC. JASC 76 will convene with the theme: “Visions: Perspectives reflected from the past - together understanding, contributing for the future.” Applications are OPEN until December 24, 2023. Apply here!
The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led academic conference that was established in 2008 with the goal of supporting the deep bilateral relationship between the U.S. and South Korea. This conference brings together up to 30 students studying in the United States and the Republic of Korea for an academically rigorous, three-week-long summer program, during which students live, travel, and conduct original, peer-reviewed research together. KASC is unique among ISC conferences in its two-country model, in which students travel to both the U.S. and South Korea each year.
The 17th Korea-America Student Conference will travel to New York City, Washington, DC, and Seoul, South Korea, from June 23rd to July 11th, 2024! The KASC 17 Executive Committee chose the theme: “Embracing Complexity: Navigating the Intersections in Global Diplomacy for a Shared Tomorrow.” Applications are OPEN! Apply by December 23, 2023 at this link!
The China-America Student Conference (ChASC) is a 2-week academic and cultural interchange program that brings together an equal number of students representing the United States of America and China for off-the-record discussions on the future of the bilateral relationship. ChASC was established in 2020, making it the newest of the ISC conferences.
The 4th China-America Student Conference will convene from June 3rd to June 15th in Chicago and Washington, DC! ChASC 4 will focus on the theme, “From Reflection to Connection: Lessons from the Past, Visions For the Future” and welcomes American students, Chinese students, and Chinese students studying in the United States! Please apply by December 31, 2023, at this link!
Now in its third year, Johns Hopkins University is hosting the virtual Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Research Symposium April 8-10, 2022. This is the first conference of its kind: there has been no other national platform for undergraduates in the humanities to share their work.
The Macksey Symposium is designed to provide a development opportunity for students that looks toward their future pursuit of the humanities. The 2022 symposium will feature the following:
Information about applying to present at the event is available on their website at https://krieger.jhu.edu/macksey-symposium/. The deadline for submitting an application is February 15, 2022. Dr. Oyen is a great resource if you have questions about writing an abstract or submitting an application. Additional information is also available on the attached flyer.
The symposium staff are hosting a Zoom Q&A session with application tips and conference information today, February 9, 1-2pm. Click this link to join the Zoom session [link will launch the Zoom meeting].