The FY2024 Osaka Prefectural Board of Education High School Students International Conference

※Click here for the Japanese version: 日本語版はこちらをご覧ください

The High School Students International Conference, held on March 8, 2025 (fiscal year 2024 in Japan), brought together high school students from Japan, the Philippines, and India via an online platform. The participants transcended national and cultural boundaries to discuss and present on the theme of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, deepening their understanding of each other's perspectives.

● Event Overview
・Date and Time: March 8, 2025 (Saturday) 14:00-17:00
・Method: Online (Zoom)
・Participants: 107 (32 Japanese, 39 Indian, 36 Filipino)
・Host: Osaka Prefectural Board of Education
・Organizer: Non-profit Organization Deep People

● Program Content
・Opening Ceremony
・Icebreaker
・Guest Lecture and Q&A
・Group Discussion
・Report Presentation
・Closing Ceremony

● Event details
・Icebreaker
Participants were divided into 23 groups and played 'Picture Shiritori' in breakout rooms as an icebreaker.

・Guest Lecture and Q&A
Anthony Halog, a professor from the University of Queensland, Australia, gave a guest lecture on the theme "From Waste to Wonder: Exploring Circular Economy Solutions for SDG12." During the Q&A session, students asked so many questions that there wasn't enough time to address them all.

・Group Discussion
Participants were once again divided into 23 groups to hold discussions on the themes of resource waste and overconsumption in daily life, their negative effects, and what actions could be taken to prevent them.

・Report Presentation
Approximately 5 of the 23 groups jointly presented the results of their discussions.

・Closing Ceremony

● Impressions from Participating High School Students
- "I learned firsthand that even with language barriers, if you have respect for others and confidence to talk about yourself, you can deepen friendships with anyone."
- "The biggest thing I learned today was the power of international cooperation and how moving and wonderful it can be."
- "Especially after the fulfilling lecture, I strongly felt that there is still much to learn about SDGs."
- "Even if we are young, we can make a big impact. It's now or never."
- "I want to build a career in the field of sustainability and environmental science."

● Impressions from Facilitators (Volunteers):
The conference was supported by facilitators from diverse backgrounds. A total of 46 facilitators from 17 countries participated, guiding the high school students' discussions and smoothly advancing the conference by drawing on their unique perspectives and experiences. Thanks to their cooperation, the conference was a great success. Here are some comments from the facilitators:

- "I was amazed at the language skills and logical thinking of high school students. Supporting their ideas to solve social issues gave me a deep sense of purpose—and also allowed me to learn a lot from them."
— Vietnamese working professional facilitator

- "The conference helped me grow—not just in public speaking, but also in sharing my passion for environmental science with the next generation."
— Graduate student facilitator from Ghana

- “We managed our time well, stayed on topic, and successfully completed all tasks. The group worked efficiently, and the experience was very rewarding."
— University student facilitator from the United Kingdom

- “I had a wonderful experience engaging with students from diverse schools. I supported group discussions, encouraged active participation, and helped students exchange ideas confidently in English."
— Graduate student facilitator from Nigeria

- "It was an exciting experience, and a great opportunity to make friends, expand your network, and talk with people from diverse backgrounds."
— University student facilitator from Côte d'Ivoire