Engr. Vallente received his Certificate of Completion from the IATSS President Prof. Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi (left). He also gave his speech in behalf of the participants at the 63rd IATSS Leadership Training Program Completion Ceremony (right).
Engr Jefferson Vallente Jr, a faculty from the Civil Engineering Department, represented the Philippines in the 63rd IATTS Forum Leadership Development Program in Suzuka, Japan. Engr Jeff is among the nineteen (19) leaders from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand who participated in the International Association of Transportation Safety Sciences (IATSS) Forum from 11 June to 5 July 2023.
Providing a platform of “Thinking and Learning Together” for young professionals in various fields in Asian countries, the IATSS Forum aims to nurture future leaders from Asia who have the motivation and capacity to think of solutions and act for a better future. Since its inception in 1985, the IATSS Forum has aimed to train young professionals to be internationally-minded leaders who will contribute to global society. The Forum has trained thousands of leaders from various professional fields in different industries, politics, and education. Locally, the IATSS Forum is supported and mainstreamed through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
63rd IATSS Leadership Training Program participants with IATTS President Prof Dr Kazuhiko Takeuchi, University Professors in Japan.
The theme for this year’s IATSS Forum focused on Sustainability, where participants learned about Sustainability Science from university professors in Japan: the United Nations University, the University of Tokyo, the IATSS, and Honda. The 2023 training program hosted seminars on Japan’s foreign policies and international cooperation, modernization and post-war reconstructions, globalization, environmental protection, centralization, and regional revitalization, and development of country and education Policy and welfare of people with disabilities. Furthermore, team building and skills training activities were integrated into the training program to prepare participants as global leaders and spark change through leadership in their home institutions.
Field Study on Disaster Reduction, Recovery and Preparedness in Rikuzentakata city.
Aside from the lectures, field studies were also conducted to inspire young leaders to design sustainable societies. An example of the field study conducted was on Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction which included a visit to the North of Japan in cities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. At the end of the training program, the participants were divided into groups tasked to formulate a project proposal on sustainable development responding to an identified societal gap. Moving forward, the groups continue to collaborate and work together in implementing their group project.
The IATSS Forum held its Completion Ceremony on 5 July at the Miyako Hotel, Yokkaichi City. Engr Jeff spoke for the 63rd batch as he shared his insights, valuable lessons, and commitment to sustainable development during the Completion Ceremony.
To know more about the program and its current call for applicants for the 65th/66th Batch, interested individuals may visit the IATSS Forum site here: https://www.iatssforum.jp/en/.