• Home
• Call for Papers
  • Keynote Speech
  • Special Workshop
  • Interactive Sessions
• Important Dates
• Conference Program
• Social Program
• Online Registration
• Access Map
• Accommodation
• Travel Information
• FAQ
• Organizing Committee
• Contact Us / Link
  

    We have the pleasure of announcing that the 10th Annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities Doctoral Students Conference (APRU DSC) will take place from 6 to 10 July, 2009 at the Clock Tower Centennial Hall of Kyoto University in Japan. The Kyoto University (KU) Organizing Committee of the Conference calls for papers to be given at the 10th APRU DSC. Doctoral students from all disciplines are invited to attend and present papers related to their doctoral research.

    The main theme of the 10th APRU DSC is "Promoting Originality and Diversity in Research." We aim to stress the value of originality in research, and the importance of diversity to research development. The qualities of originality and diversity are a reflection and accumulation of existing culture, as well as a source of solutions to emerging challenges in society. We hope that outstanding PhD students from the Pacific Rim will utilize this conference as an opportunity to share their specific experiences and contribute to a joint effort to advance the progress of research in the Pacific Rim area. Our objectives are: to further our research, to develop our intellectual curiosity, and to enhance our minds, through exchanging and sharing experiences between diverse cultures and minds.

    The conference will be composed of paper sessions and a special workshop. The presentation of papers will take place under the paper sessions. Papers are expected to be drawn from all academic disciplines including, but not limited to, the following:

    The aim of the special workshop is 1) to promote academic exchange among doctoral students and 2) to cultivate a better understanding of our conference theme "Promoting Originality and Diversity in Research," through discussing relevant topics. All participants will be expected to attend the special workshop and contribute their personal viewpoints to a lively discussion. The contents of the special workshop are as follows:

1. Keynote speeches (6 July)


2. Group Discussion (6 July)
   Participants will be divided into approximately 10 groups to discuss relevant topics. We will select a discussion topic which is related to the conference theme and keynote speeches, and which is relevant to contemporary society. Members of the Doctoral Students Network Executive Committee and the DSC Organizing Committee will lead the discussions and help coordinate the groups. It is hoped that the discussions will be continued throughout the conference at any appropriate opportunities, such as over lunch and in the evenings. (7-9 July)


3. Final presentations (10 July)
   The leaders of each group will make brief presentations about the conclusions of their group discussions.

We hope that the special workshop will cultivate friendship between the participants and enhance their mutual understanding of each other's perspectives.

    The official language of the conference is English. Abstracts, paper presentations and all conference materials will be in English. Approximately 100 doctoral students will be selected to present papers.

1. Abstracts and any accompanying papers should be submitted in English using the On-Line Registration system (http://www.opir.kyoto-u.ac.jp/apru_dsc/registration.html).


2. Each abstract should contain a description of the paper not exceeding 250 words, and should include the title, author's name, institutional affiliation, nationality, discipline and at most 5 keywords. The keywords are designed to provide a guide to the areas/issues covered by the paper, and will be used by the KU Organizing Committee to allocate papers to appropriate sessions.


3. If there is more than one author, the name of the person who will present the paper at the DSC should be clearly indicated in the abstract.


• In principle, the person presenting the paper must be a doctoral student enrolled at a university that is a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) at the time the abstract is submitted.


• However, the KU Organizing Committee will allow a small number (approximately 5) of doctoral students enrolled at universities that are not members of APRU to present their papers at the DSC. In this case, the papers should have some connection to the Asia-Pacific region, and the students must provide a letter of recommendation from a member of the faculty or department in which they are enrolled.


4. If the total number of submissions exceeds 100, the KU Organizing Committee reserves the right to screen abstracts on basis of their quality, taking into account the balance in presentations across countries, universities, and disciplines.


• In the case of applications from students enrolled at universities that are not members of APRU, the KU Organizing Committee will also take into account the relationship of the papers' content to the Asia-Pacific region.


• Abstracts whose authors are enrolled at APRU member universities will be accorded priority over the others.


5. It should be noted that participation in the 10th APRU DSC is subject to the acceptance of abstracts by the KU Organizing Committee.

• DSC participants will be provided with accommodation for five nights (5 - 9 July).
• No registration fees will be charged for the 10th APRU DSC.

    All correspondence should be directed to the Organization for the Promotion of International Relations (OPIR) of Kyoto University at the following e-mail address: apru-dsc@www.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp.