• Business overview
• Event Overview
• About the application
• Entry
• Paper submission
• What happens after submission?
• Main Schedule

Business overview

　The Policy Research Exchange Conference, which originates from Kyoto, has been held since 2005 with the aim of providing a forum for students who identify problems and issues facing cities and conduct research to solve them to present the results of their research, deepen exchanges that transcend the boundaries of universities and seminars, and provide a forum for policy proposals and information dissemination to the local community.

Overview of the 21st Kyoto Policy Research Exchange Conference

Click here for the flyer

This year marks the 21st year of the conference, first held in 2005.
The theme of the presentations is “Urban Policy in General.” Research presentations will cover a wide range of fields, including the environment, economy, culture, community, and welfare, and will explore policies to address urban challenges.
Seeing a variety of presentations from across universities and departments may provide valuable inspiration for future research.
In addition to presentations, the conference will also feature a networking event with certified organizations from the Gaku-City Collaboration Project, creating a fun and engaging experience for students. After the conference, all presenters will receive a report card with their scores and judges’ comments, as well as a comment sheet from participants in each subcommittee. Please use these to provide feedback on your presentation. Furthermore, top prize winners will have the opportunity to further their research by discussing their presentation content with government officials after the conference. Why
not present the results of your daily research and learning at this conference?
We look forward to your applications!

Presentation Format: Oral Presentation
After submitting a paper in advance and undergoing a presentation qualification screening and paper review, participants will give an oral presentation on the day of the conference.
The presentation time will be 25 minutes, consisting of 15 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for questions and answers.

■Award

Papers and oral presentations will be reviewed comprehensively, and outstanding presenters will be awarded a Research Encouragement Award.

◆ Please check the review guidelines for the review method and criteria.

Examination Guidelines (PDF)

About the application

◆ Please be sure to check the recruitment requirements before applying.

Application Guidelines (PDF)

■ Eligibility

Undergraduate and junior college students from member schools of the University Consortium Kyoto (either individuals or groups are accepted)
*In the case of a group consisting of students from multiple universities, the representative must be a student from a member school of the University Consortium Kyoto.
*Administrative procedures related to the competition, such as entry and paper submission, must be carried out by the above-mentioned qualified person.

■How to apply

Step 1: Entry　(Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025, noon)
Entries are now closed.

Step 2: Submit your paper　(Deadline: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, noon)
Entries are now closed.

■Explanatory video about the tournament

Please take a look at this video to help you with your application.
The first part provides an overview of the competition, and the second part explains the judges’ judging points and research methods.

Explanation video for prospective applicants (Part 1)

Explanation video for prospective applicants (Part 2)

Announcement of the 2024 University Consortium Kyoto President’s Award Winners
(This video is from the Policy Research Exchange Conference held on Sunday, December 15, 2024.)

Announcement of the 2024 Japan Association for Public Policy Studies Award Winners
(This video is from the Policy Research Conference held on Sunday, December 15, 2024.)

Step 1 Entry by noon on Friday, August 1, 2025

Entries will open on Friday, June 27, 2025.

Please click the button below to proceed to the entry form.

*After completing your entry, you will receive an automatic reply email with the serial number you will need when submitting your paper in Step 2. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder and then contact us.
*Entries will not be accepted after the deadline, so please apply well in advance of the deadline.

Step 2: Submit your thesis by noon on Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The paper submission period has closed.

What happens after submission?

We will review the submitted papers to determine whether you are eligible to present, and will notify you of the results of your eligibility to present in mid-November via the email address you provided in the application form.

◇◇About the paper◇◇

• If your presentation is not prepared in the specified format, you may be deemed ineligible during the presentation qualification screening process, or points may be deducted during the paper review process.
• Submitted papers will be subject to a thesis examination.
• Please note that the papers of oral presenters will be published digitally as a collection of papers on this website.
• The papers presented by the Research Encouragement Award recipients and the PowerPoint data used in their oral presentations on the day will be posted on this website and on the University-Regional Collaboration Portal Site Gakumachi Station after the conference (publication will be confirmed individually).

Reference: Click here for the PowerPoint presentations of the research award winners and oral presentations from the 20th conference.

Main schedule (updated regularly)