UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge was held on campus between 27th July and 4th August 2024.
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024 participants in front of UCL main building
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge is a prestigious annual summer school programme which has a tremendous reputation and impact since 2015. Pre-university students from Japan and the UK attend a series of university-style lectures on a wide range of subjects by academics from leading UK universities including UCL (University College London), and engage in UCL Grand Challenge Workshop. Participants also experience British university student life through staying in halls of residence at the University of Cambridge and UCL.
This programme was established in 2015 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Choshu Five and the Satsuma 19 students’ arrival at UCL. The Choshu Five were the first Japanese students who studied at a UK university, and upon return they played leading roles in modernising Japan. Since then, UCL and Japan have been enjoying close ties.
We successfully delivered the programmes online between 2020 and 2022 to widen participation.
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024 was our 10th programme, held on campus between Saturday 27th July and Sunday 4th August 2024.
Why join us?
By participating in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024, you can:
Experience university education by attending a series of lectures in various subjects.
Learn Japanese culture from a wide range of lectures and interact with participants from all over the country. You can make friends from Japan!
Learn how to get on to UCL and other top UK universities. The UCL admissions team guide you through the application process.
Engage in lectures and activities around topics relating to this year’s programme.
Have information about the Japan Foundation, London’s programmes.
Explore various fields with world-leading lecturers, engage in dedicated activities, and develop your ideas through participating the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop.
Theme: Space and Us
Embark on an extraordinary voyage with the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024, the 10th acclaimed summer school programme hosted at UCL and the University of Cambridge. Tailored for forward-thinking pre-university students, this immersive experience offers a blend of university-style lectures and various cultural exchange activities. Dive into the captivating mysteries of space and contemplate our place in space with like-minded participants. Join us as we journey into the depths of Space and Us, uniting participants from Japan and the UK in a transformative exploration. Expand your horizons and ignite your intellectual curiosity with us.
UCL Grand Challenge Workshop
As part of the programme, we host the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop on this year’s theme: Space and Us (please see the Programme outline below).
UCL Grand Challenges is an initiative of the UCL Vice-Provost (Research) to bring researchers from across UCL interdisciplinarily, which have changed the way researchers investigate the world’s problems, since 2009.
There are six UCL Grand Challenges; Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Cultural Understanding, Human Wellbeing, Justice & Equality, and Transformative Technology.
UCL Grand Challenge Workshop during the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge focuses on one of these challenges every year.
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024, UCL Grand Challenge Workshop illustation by Scriberia
Programme outline
On campus programme
Dates: Saturday 27th July – Sunday 4th August 2024 (9 days)
* Participants from Japanese high schools arrived on Friday 26th July and stayed at our accommodation throughout the programme.
Accommodation was available at Rikkyo School in England, the University of Cambridge and UCL (University of London).
You must attend Days 1 and 4–8 (six days in total) regardless of your accommodation option:
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Day 1: Saturday 27th July
(Day 1: Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex RH12 3BE)
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Day 4: Tuesday 30th July
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Day 5: Wednesday 31st July
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Day 6: Thursday 1st August
-
Day 7: Friday 2nd August
-
Day 8: Saturday 3rd August
(Days 4–8: UCL, London WC1E 6BT)
If you did not stay at the University of Cambridge accommodation, Day 3: Monday 29th July was optional to attend.
If you did not stay at UCL (University of London) accommodation, your last day on the programme was Day 8: Saturday 3rd August 2024.
If you stayed at UCL (University of London) accommodation, your last day was on Day 9: Sunday 4th August 2024.
| Day | Location | Breakfast Participants staying at our accommodation only | Morning | Lunch | Afternoon | Dinner Participants staying at our accommodation only, except Days 1, 7 & 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 Friday 26th July 2024 Participants from Japanese high schools only: check-in day | Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex RH12 3BE | — | — | — | Participants from Japanese high schools only: arrival at London Heathrow Airport | Participants from Japanese high schools only: Rikkyo School in England |
| Day 1 Saturday 27th July 2024 All participants must attend, first day | Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex RH12 3BE | Participants from Japanese high schools only: Rikkyo School in England | Welcome event: - Welcome talk by UCL Prof Shin-ichi Ohnuma, Chair of the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge - Self- and school-introductions | Rikkyo School in England | Ice-breaking activities | All participants: Barbecue at Rikkyo School in England |
| Day 2 Sunday 28th July 2024 Participants with our Cambridge accommodation options only | University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (1 of 2 days) | Rikkyo School in England | Visit UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory | Rikkyo School in England | Move to University of Cambridge | Peterhouse, University of Cambridge * Cambridge college formal dinner |
| Day 3 Monday 29th July 2024 Optional for participants without our accommodation | University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (2 of 2 days) | Robinson College, University of Cambridge | Lectures | Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge | - Lectures - Cambridge group sightseeing - Punting | Robinson College, University of Cambridge |
| Day 4 Tuesday 30th July 2024 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (1 of 5 days) | Robinson College, University of Cambridge | Move to London | UCL | - UCL Grand Challenge Workshop - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 5 Wednesday 31st July 2024 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (2 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | Language lesson: - English - Japanese beginner - Japanese advanced (1 of 2 lessons) | UCL | - Lectures - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 6 Thursday 1st August 2024 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (3 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | - UCL tour Language lesson: - English - Japanese beginner - Japanese advanced (2 of 2 lessons) | UCL | - Lectures - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 7 Friday 2nd August 2024 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (4 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | - Group work | UCL | - Symposium (including group presentation) - Reception | All participants: Buffet at the Reception |
| Day 8 Saturday 3rd August 2024 All participants must attend, final day for participants without our accommodation | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (5 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | London group sightseeing (and lunch) | Not provided | Final ceremony | All participants: pizza party at UCL |
| Day 9 Sunday 4th August 2024 Participants staying at our accommodation only: check-out day | London | International Hall, University of London | Departure | — | — | — |
* We reserve the right to change or modify any of the programme details, at any time and in our sole discretion.
Participants received a detailed itinerary prior to the programme.
Accommodation options
Participants must choose one option from the following Options 1–4.
We would be unable to offer any other accommodation options.
Participants from Japanese high schools arrive on Friday 26th July and stay at our accommodation throughout the programme.
Option 1
All accommodation
(8 nights in total):
- Rikkyo School in England (1 night)
- University of Cambridge (2 nights)
- UCL (5 nights)
You will attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 27th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 2 & 3: Sunday 28th & Monday 29th July
—at the University of Cambridge - Days 4–8: Tuesday 30th July–Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Your final day:
- Day 9: Sunday 4th August
—Departure
Option 2
Accommodation
(3 nights in total):
- Rikkyo School in England (1 night)
- University of Cambridge (2 nights)
No accommodation:
- UCL
You will attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 27th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 2 & 3: Sunday 28th & Monday 29th July
—at the University of Cambridge - Days 4–8: Tuesday 30th July–Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Your final day:
- Day 8: Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Option 3
Accommodation
(5 nights):
- UCL only (5 nights)
No accommodation:
- Rikkyo School in England
- University of Cambridge
You will attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 27th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 4–8: Tuesday 30th July–Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Optionally you may attend:
- Day 3: Monday 29th July
—at the University of Cambridge
Your final day:
- Day 9: Sunday 4th August
—Departure
Option 4
No accommodation
You will attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 27th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 4–8: Tuesday 30th July–Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Optionally you may attend:
- Day 3: Monday 29th July
—at the University of Cambridge
Your final day:
- Day 8: Saturday 3rd August
—at UCL
Homework
In order to deepen participants’ understanding of this year’s theme: Space and Us, homework will be provided prior to the programme.
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024 & the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge may count for your Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) through the Residential section.
You must make sure that you meet the requirements if you wish to be awarded a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the Residential section before you apply for the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024.
Your participation in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024 on its own does not grant a DofE Award.
For more information about the Residential section and its requirements, please refer to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s website: Sections | Residential section FAQ | Residential Session Plan | Checklist
Lectures
Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge
Kabul – last call
Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG
President
Hughes Hall
University of Cambridge
Dr Michael Ishida
Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory
Department of Engineering
University of Cambridge
UCL
Symposium speakers
Prof Lucie Green
Professor of Physics
Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Department of Space and Climate Physics
UCL Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Mr Yutaro Tanaka
Manager
Procurement Engineering
European Purchasing Centre
Mitsubishi Electric Europe
Dr Kate Kitagawa
Senior Counselor for International Relations (Advisor to Senior Vice President)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Prof Anu Ojha OBE
Director of Championing Space
UK Space Agency
Symposium & Reception
We welcomed members of the public to our Space and Us Symposium & Reception on Friday 2nd August 2024.
As part of the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024, a prestigious summer school programme for pre-university students from both the UK and Japan since 2015, we welcomed the public to our Space and Us Symposium and Reception on Friday 2nd August from 1pm.
We invited speakers from the senior team of the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), including Prof Daisuke Kawata and Prof Lucie Green.
In collaboration with MSSL, the world-leading researchers delivered talks on the summer school programme theme ‘Space and Us’.
Programme highlight video
Participants’ thank you video
This summer school programme is organised by the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Committee.
Chair: Prof Shin-ichi Ohnuma, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
Committee Members (in alphabetical order by first name):
Dr Anawat Suppasri, Ayato Yamazaki, Emiko Asagoshi, Prof Hidekazu Kurebayashi, Hideyuki Miyahara, Kaito Mizukoshi, Kentaro Kimura, Makoto Yoshida, Manaka Abe, Dr Masazumi Tada, Dr Masako Shimato, Dr Miwako Kitamura, Momo Sakai, Risa Hanai, Seitaro Taketani, Sumire Kaimori, Wataru Tage, Dr Yasu Takeuchi, Dr Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Yuta Nagano
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Committee are most grateful for our partners, collaborators, sponsors and supporters.
We would be unable to hold the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge summer school programme without their generous commitment.
In partnership with the Japan Foundation, Rikkyo School in England & UK Japan Institute
In collaboration with Shimizu Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Building Solutions Corporation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation (Daiwa Foundation Small Grants), Japan Association in the UK, Biospire, Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima-15 Project, Daishichi Sake Brewery, Kashiwaya, Apollo Gas, Apollo Group, Kagoshima Prefecture, Tohoku University International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Mitoco Kawachi Corporation, The Japanese Women’s Association in Great Britain, APRIO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, Ajinomoto, Sugoi Fusion, Clearspring, Sun Chlorella, Educational Research Foundation, the Embassy of Japan in the UK, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) London & UCL Grand Challenges
