Business overview
The University Consortium Kyoto has been holding an FD Forum every year since 1995 with the aim of raising awareness of FD among university faculty and staff and contributing to the improvement of university education. From 2024, in order to improve the quality of education and university administration from a broader perspective, the name of the forum will be changed to the “FD/SD Forum,” and it will be held in a format that incorporates more SD elements than ever before. This is an FD/SD event that is attended by many university faculty and staff members and education-related personnel from all over the country.
Event Overview
The 31st FD/SD Forum
- Main Theme
- Kyoto Universities in 2040: How will we teach, learn, and work?
- Date and Time
- Saturday, February 28, 2026, Sunday, March 1, 2026
- venue
- Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus Ryoshinkan (Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City) Access
*Campus map available here
Ryoshikan is building 22 on the campus map. - Event format
- Face-to-face format
- Content
-
The 31st FD/SD Forum leaflet can be downloaded here
- Organizer
- Kyoto University Consortium, a public interest incorporated foundation
- Sponsor
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City
schedule
| schedule | time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, February 28th | 10:00-12:30 | Subcommittee 1, Subcommittee 2, Subcommittee 3, Subcommittee 4 |
| 12:30-14:15 *Core time 13:00-14:00 |
Poster Session | |
| 14:30-17:00 | 5th Subcommittee, 6th Subcommittee, 7th Subcommittee, 8th Subcommittee | |
| 17:30-19:00 | Information exchange meeting | |
| Sunday, March 1st | 10:00-12:40 | Symposium |
| 14:00-16:30 | 9th Subcommittee, 10th Subcommittee, 11th Subcommittee, 12th Subcommittee |
Symposium
More details about the symposium can be found here .
|
Symposium: March 1st (Sun) 10:00-12:40
Questioning the role of universities (education) in the age of AI and a society with a declining birthrate Capacity
: 350 people (210 people with priority for member schools) |
|---|
| At a time of dual transition—rapid advances in AI technology and a declining university student population due to a declining birthrate—how should higher education institutions change and what value should they provide to society? The emergence of generative AI, including ChatGPT, is bringing fundamental changes to the way we learn and the way we produce knowledge. Meanwhile, the challenges facing university management due to a declining birthrate could offer an opportunity to go beyond mere survival and reexamine the very essence of education. The question now is not “what to teach,” but “how to ask questions and build an environment that fosters learning.” To achieve this, we must redesign our perspectives on education, learning, and universities. This symposium will feature three speakers on university learning in the age of AI, exploring how education can be thought about, questioned, and created with AI. The following panel discussion will bring together university faculty, staff, and students to explore the future of universities, viewing the challenges of generative AI and a declining birthrate as opportunities for educational innovation. |
Breakout sessions (lectures and workshops)
Poster Session
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 12:30-14:15 (core time 13:00-14:00)
Faculty, staff, and students from member schools of the University Consortium Kyoto will be presenting distinctive educational initiatives.
A summary of all the posters presented can be found here .
Information exchange meeting
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
This information exchange event will bring together faculty, staff, students, and speakers from across the country, all in one place, where they can enjoy a meal and socialize. We hope
you will reflect on the theme of this event and have meaningful conversations for the future.
We hope that this will be a special time where you can make new connections and share your experiences and insights.
*Please note that due to the provision of alcohol, participants under the age of 20 are not permitted at the information exchange event.
Important points to note when participating
<Same for Days 1 and 2>
- There is no parking available on campus. Please use public transportation when visiting.
- Please be mindful to turn off your mobile phones, smartphones, etc. or set them to silent mode to mute them while inside the symposium or breakout session venue.
- Please refrain from eating or taking breaks inside the symposium and breakout sessions. Please use the designated classrooms that are open for lunch and breaks.
- For details on lunch and rest areas, please refer to the leaflet titled “Lunch and rest areas.”
- Smoking is prohibited inside buildings and on campus.
- A Wi-Fi ID and password will be distributed on the day. You can also use eduroam.
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Regarding accommodations near Doshisha University’s Imadegawa Campus,
the area around Imadegawa Campus is close to many tourist attractions, and it may be difficult to secure accommodations, especially during the tourist season.
In recent years, the number of tourists has increased even in February and March, so we ask that you make your accommodation arrangements early.
Application
Participation fee
| Affiliation | classification | Participation fee | Information exchange fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member universities/junior colleges | Faculty and staff | 1,000 yen | 4,000 yen |
| Students (including graduate students) | free | 2,000 yen | |
| Non-member universities, junior colleges, other organizations, companies, etc. | Faculty/Staff/General | 4,000 yen | 4,000 yen |
| Students (including graduate students) | free | 2,000 yen |
- Except in the event of cancellation, participation fees will not be refunded regardless of the reason.
- Please note that once the application process is complete, you cannot change the details of your application.
-
The payment deadlines are as follows:
[Participation fee payment deadline for early registration period applicants: Wednesday, January 21, 2026]
[Participation fee payment deadline for general registration period applicants: Monday, February 9, 2026]
If payment procedures are not completed by the deadline, we will assume that you do not intend to participate, and your application will be invalid. - Please note that if you pay too much participation fee due to incomplete information such as affiliation or category, we will not be able to refund you.
If the participation fee is insufficient, we will invoice you for the remaining amount at a later date. - The amount shown on the receipt is the total
of the participation fee, information exchange fee (if registered), and lunch fee (if registered) .
Receipts cannot be divided into individual amounts. Please refer to the leaflet and website for details. - Student participants (including graduate students) are required to present their student ID at the reception.
- Students under the age of 20 as of the day of the event will not be able to apply for the information exchange session, as alcohol will be provided.
Students participating in the information exchange session will be asked to show their date of birth as it appears on their student ID.
If your date of birth is not listed on your student ID, please also present an official document that can verify your date of birth (e.g., driver’s license, passport, etc.).
Regarding payment of the participation fee
You can choose from the following payment methods. Bank transfers are not available.
1. Credit card payment 2. Convenience store payment
- The above payment will be made using the email-linked system “Paysys”.
- Information regarding the above will be provided to you after you apply.
- Credit card information is not stored by the University Consortium Kyoto.
It is sent to the card company via Metaps Payment Co., Ltd., the payment system operator (Paysys).
*Due to the introduction of automated payment methods from fiscal year 2025, payment by bank transfer, which has been used until now, will no longer be available. Please proceed with payment using the payment method specified above.
Application period
An early application period is being set up for faculty, staff, and students of universities and junior colleges that are members of the University Consortium Kyoto.
Applications will be accepted up to the priority capacity during the early application period.
- Early application period (limited to universities and junior colleges affiliated with the University Consortium Kyoto)
- January 9, 2026 (Friday) 10:00 to January 15, 2026 (Thursday) 17:00
- General admission (all universities and junior colleges)
- January 16, 2026 (Friday) 10:00 to February 4, 2026 (Wednesday) 17:00
How to apply [Online application only]
*This forum requires advance application. Applications will not be accepted outside the application period or on the day of the forum.
Step 1: Apply (first come, first served)
- Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once capacity is reached. (There is no waiting list for cancellations.)
- Please note that once the application process is complete, you will not be able to change the symposium or breakout sessions.
However, you may move between breakout sessions (lecture-style) on the day, so it is okay if the breakout session (lecture-style) you applied for is different from the one you attend on the day.
| About group applications (proxy applications) |
|---|
|
This application site is designed to allow group applications (proxy applications) by the coordinating department. If you are applying on behalf of others, please check the box in the middle of the application site that says “If the invoice address is different from the above, please check and enter the details below” and enter the invoice address. An invoice (PDF data) will be sent via automatic reply email immediately after your application, only to the email address you entered as the invoice recipient Please select “Convenience store payment” for payment (bank transfers are not available). *Due to the introduction of automated payment methods from fiscal year 2025, payment by bank transfer, which has been used until now, will no longer be available. Please proceed with payment using the payment method specified above. |
Step 2: Receive an application completion email
After completing the application procedure, an “application completion email” will be sent to the applicant.
*If you do not receive the “application completion email” by the next day, please contact us.
Please note that the email may have been sorted into your spam folder.
[Participation fee payment deadline for early registration period applicants: Wednesday, January 21, 2026]
[Participation fee payment deadline for general registration period applicants: Monday, February 9, 2026]
Step 3: Pay the participation fee
After completing the application process, please check the website and pay the participation fee by the deadline.
*Payment methods include credit card payment and convenience store payment. Bank transfers are not accepted.
Step 4: Download materials
Only those who have completed the payment procedure for the participation fee will be sent a download URL for each project’s materials to the email address listed in the participant section after Friday, February 20th.
*Paper copies will not be distributed on the day, so please download them to your own device or print them out in advance and bring them with you.
*If you do not receive an email by three days before the event, please contact us at the address listed below.
Step 5 On the day of the forum (what you need to bring to the reception on the day)
Participants should present the screen or printout of their “31st FD/SD Forum Participant’s My Page” at the reception on the day.
*If a substitute person is attending, please print out the “Participant’s My Page” screen and bring it with you to the reception.
About lunch box applications
As the cafeteria will not be open, those who wish to do so can pre-order lunches from a company commissioned by the Foundation when they apply online for the forum. Please
note that you will not be able to choose the type of lunch. Please also note that we are unable to cater to allergies.
Applications can be made through the Forum Symposium/Subcommittee application page (select options). Please refer to the website for lunch fees. Once
you have applied online for a lunch, no additional applications, changes, cancellations or refunds will be accepted. Please note that no refunds will be given even if you cancel or are absent from the forum.
Lunch fees are as follows:
| Day 1 | 1,080 yen (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Day 2 | 1,080 yen (tax included) |
Implementation Report
The report will be posted on the website in May 2026 (it will not be published in paper form).
Contact Information
Kyoto University Consortium FD/SD Forum Office, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
TEL: 075-353-9163 FAX: 075-353-9101
E-mail: fdf■consortium.or.jp (replace ■ with @)
Campus Plaza Kyoto, Nishinotoin-dori Shiokoji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
*Reception hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-17:00 (excluding New Year’s holidays)
