On 16 September 2026, ASEF welcomed 15 Japanese undergraduate students from the Kansai University Hackathon Programme as part of their Singapore Blended Mobility Programme. The students come from a range of disciplines, including business and commerce, sociology, foreign language studies and data science.
Their on-site experience at ASEF explored the importance of leadership and cross-cultural perspectives in working with people from diverse backgrounds. The session encouraged them to reflect on how their own experiences, values and perspectives shape how they understand and engage with others.
During the workshop, Ms Freya CHOW-PAUL, Youth Project Lead, Ms Linnéa REGNELL, Project Executive, and Ms Angela CHU, Intern from the Education Department introduced the students to a 360-degree approach to leadership, focusing on 1) Self-Leadership, 2) Team Leadership and 3) Societal Leadership. Through group discussions and practical exercises, they explored their own self-identity and values, as well as perceptions of diversity and stereotypes.
The workshop complemented their wider entrepreneurship hackathon programme in Singapore, where they worked in teams on entrepreneurship challenges towards a final hackathon pitch. These discussions fostered a broader understanding of how they can contribute to a better future through collaboration, leadership and engagement with diverse perspectives.
Partnership with Kansai University
This visit marks the third consecutive year that ASEF has hosted Kansai University students, building on our continued collaboration to promote cross-cultural learning and international perspectives. The partnership was further strengthened in 2025 when Kansai University hosted the 6th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS6) in Osaka, Japan. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership and creating more opportunities for meaningful exchange and learning in the future.
Learn more about the ASEF Young Leaders Summit here.
Learn more about the Kansai University: Singapore Blended Mobility Program here.