riafoIntelligence Report prepared for the International
Academic Board Strategic Planning Summit
March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Prepared by Dr Melina Neophytou and Mr Apipol Sae-tung for Professor Anne Boddington andmembers of the International Academic Board (IAB)Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary

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2 Future Themes at Conferences3

2.1 Analysis of Trends Based on the World Economic Forum (WEF)

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2.2 Members' Ideas from Questionnaire

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2.3 Comparing the WEF Analysis and the IAFOR Members Questionnaire Analysis14
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4 New IAFOR Projects

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3 Capacity-Building Demand Based on IAFOR Members

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4.2 IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium

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4.3 The IAFOR Global Fellowship Programme

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4.4 Other Upcoming Projects

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4.1 Roundtable Discussions at IAFOR Conferences

5 Summary and Action Points

Appendix23
25

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

1 Executive Summary
IAFOR is committed to promoting international exchange, facilitating heightened interculturalawareness, and encouraging interdisciplinary discussion. As such, capturing zeitgeist issues
through an intercultural and interdisciplinary exchange of ideas requires careful planning andprecise identification of key trends and issues. Frequently, these insights come from experts
and professionals who are well-versed in contemporary, global issues and debates.

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However, as an institution that works directly with people who are at the forefront ofworldwide events, we recognise that we are in a strategically advantageous position tocapture and provide a platform to marginalised ideas that may be part of a greater solution to
global challenges. IAFOR places enormous importance on inclusive debates andopportunities for everyone, whether they are early- or mid-career academics, practitioners,
or business professionals. To this end, we want to ensure that IAFOR members' voices areheard, and on-the-ground demands are met. We aim towards expanding our research andcapacity-building opportunities for early-career academics, with the vision of creating a more
inclusive and engaged network.

iafoThis document outlines the key trends and issues identified by experts and IAFOR
members, compares worldviews and demands between policy-makers and grassroots
professionals who witness these policy impacts, lists capacity-building demands from ourcommunity, and gives an overview of new and upcoming IAFOR projects in progress.
Based on these insights, the aim of this meeting is to decide what themes should be
discussed at IAFOR conferences in the future, how we can give back to our members, andhow to create a more engaging community.

2 Future Themes at Conferences

How to decide themes for future conferences is a complex process and depends ontime-sensitive socio-cultural issues and politics. While it is important to capture the zeitgeist,
it is also important to be aware of who sets the agenda for which issues are crucial todiscuss and which are not.
For this reason, the following summary analyses the agendas and ideas derived from two
distinct organisations: the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a top-down political approach,and IAFOR members as a grassroots approach.
The World Economic Forum is an international, non-governmental organisation based in
Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on January 24, 1971, by German engineer Klaus
Schwab. The foundation's stated mission is "improving the state of the world by engaging
business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, andindustry agendas". As such, it attracts elite-level policy-makers and business leaders.

3Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, JapanOn the other hand, IAFOR was founded in Nagoya, Japan, in 2009 as a researchorganisation, conference organiser, and academic publisher dedicated to encouraging
interdisciplinary discussion, facilitating intercultural awareness, and promoting international
exchange, principally through educational interaction and academic research. As such, aswell as senior leaders, IAFOR attracts educators and researchers working at “grassroots” or“frontline” in different countries, and who find themselves directly affected by these policies.
The next three sections analyse the WEF's and the IAFOR members' views on key issues
and trends, culminating in a comparative analysis.

2.1 Analysis of Trends Based on the World Economic Forum (WEF)

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The WEF publishes a comprehensive series of reports that examine in detail the broad
range of global issues it seeks to address. For the sake of relevance to IAFOR's themes, weselected their briefing reports on the following areas: Aging, Arts & Culture, Climate Change,
Education, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Global Governance, Human Rights, Media,
Entertainment & Sports; Migration, Peace and Resilience; SDG4 Quality Education, andYouth Perspectives. The detailed reports have been generated and included in the
Supporting Documents.
We have analysed the listed thematics in accordance with how they overlap with each other.
The aim was to identify key issues that could be discussed in an interdisciplinary way atfuture IAFOR conferences.
The "World Economic Forum Strategic Intelligence Analysis 2023-2024: Table of Thematic
Overlap", which is also included in the Supporting Documents, presents a visual overview of
all trending topics identified by the WEF, and proposed thematic overlaps. For a brief
overview, the following combinations have been identified:

Topic

Overlapping Fields

Arts in Education

Arts & Culture | Education(Human) Rights

Arts & Culture | Peace & Resilience | Migration

Inclusivity

Arts & Culture | Fourth Industrial Revolution | Peace &Resilience | Human Rights | Youth Perspectives

Technology & Innovation

Ageing & Longevity | Fourth Industrial Revolution |Global Governance | Education | Media, Entertainment& Sport | Human Rights | Youth Perspectives

Longevity and Education

Ageing & Longevity | Education

Healthcare, Public & Mental HealthAgeing & Longevity | Youth Perspectives

4Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Disrupting Jobs, Demanding New
Skills, Work, Talent

Ageing & Longevity | Fourth Industrial Revolution |Human Rights | Youth Perspectives | Migration

Agency, Trust & Accountability

Fourth Industrial Revolution | Media, Entertainment &Sport | Peace & Resilience | Human Rights | Youth
Perspectives

Governance (Agile, Global,
Peaceful)

Fourth Industrial Revolution | Media, Entertainment &Sport | Peace & Resilience | Youth Perspectives |Migration

Polarising Narratives, Social
Cohesion, Civic Participation

Global Governance | Peace & Resilience

Inequality & Violence (incl. Gender) Education | Migration
Climate Change | Human Rights

Understanding Climate Risks

Climate Change | Human Rights | Youth Perspectives

Conscious Consumerism

Media, Entertainment & Sport | Youth Perspectives
Media, Entertainment & Sport | Youth Perspectivesiafo

Responsible Adoption of AI, Data
User

Sustainable Land Use

Humanitarian Action in Response
to Conflict

Peace & Resilience | Migration

Peace and Human Development

Peace & Resilience | Migration

A Stronger Human Rights System

Human Rights | Migration

Safe Spaces for Speaking Up

Peace & Resilience | Human Rights

Additional key issues that are not evidently overlapping according to how they are describedby the WEF include the following:
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Cultural and Creative Industries
Heritage Protection and Cultural
Sustainability
Lifestyle, Fitness & Longevity
Intergenerational Relationships
Financial Security and Aging
Frontier Technologies
Ethics and Identity
Geopolitical Competition
Institutional Capacity
Demands for Justice
Lifelong Learning Pathways
Quality Basic Education
Core Soft Skills

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Digital Fluency and STEM Skills
Relevant Continuing Education
Transitioning to Clean Energy
The Social Cost of Carbon
Building Climate Coalitions
Investing in Climate Action
Media and the Global Social GoodThe Value of Content
Young People and Public Safety
A Youthful Take on the Future of
Politics
Leading the Way to Net Zero
Demographic Push
Migration Data and Analytics

5Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan●"Securitization" and Rhetoric

2.2 Members' Ideas from Questionnaire
IAFOR rolled out a questionnaire targeting its members, which ran from February 8 to March
10, 2024. The aim of this short questionnaire was to identify key issues and trends to be
discussed in the future, as well as obtain ideas for capacity-building sessions, according toour members' worldviews and needs. The drive behind this was a need to stray away fromtop-down agenda-setting and get more in line with what people at the grassroots perceiveand require.

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The sample size consists of 159 individual responses from 47 countries. The majority of
respondents are within the 36-45 (34%) and 46-55 (28,7%) age groups, while early-career
academics constitute 17% of the sample. The majority hold a PhD degree and are employedwithin academia. For a more detailed overview of respondent demographics, please see the
Appendix.

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It is worth noting that, regarding the question of emerging trends and issues within our
members' fields of expertise, 26 responses were invalid for this question, bringing the total
sample size to 133. This does not affect the conclusions drawn from the analysis, as thisquestion is descriptive.
In order of frequency, the following areas and issues have been identified by IAFOR
members as emerging trends (for a larger chart, please see the Appendix):6

Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Artificial Intelligence (AI)The topic of AI was identified in 27 out of 159 responses (17%), with the majority of
respondents in the field of Education. AI was linked to Education, Psychology, Media &Communication, and the Arts.
In the field of Education, proposed topics including AI are:● Unpreparedness for the emergence of AI, but also the unpreparedness of AI itself● The need for institutional change (i.e., policies) to adjust to emerging technologies in
the classroom● A focus on academic codes of conduct, honesty, and intellectual integrity when
adopting AI tools● The need for professional training in how to use AI● AI and Critical Thinking, and AI in Researchr

In the field of Psychology, "AI and Human Interaction" is proposed.
In the field of Media and Communication, the fact that "AI will largely take over" is ofconcern.

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In the Arts, how AI impacts creativity, and how it can create a narrative and story building areof interest.

Technology and Innovation
The topic of Technology and Innovation was identified in 23 out of 159 responses (14,5%).
Technology and Innovation was linked to Education, Psychology, the Arts, Clinical
Neuroscience, and Gerontology.
In the field of Education, the following topics were proposed:● Digital enhancement of education to improve students' engagement, retention, andachievement● Technological pedagogical knowledge● Online, distance, and e-learning● Interactive learning, visualisation of concepts, and personalised instruction● Educational apps, online platforms, virtual manipulatives, and adaptive learning
systems● The relationship between teaching trends based on visual culture and the digital
native generation
In the Arts, the following issues are seen as emerging due to technological innovation:● How to incorporate technology in museums● Technological innovation and accessibility in Filmmaking: The democratisation oftechnology in documentary production is a significant trend, with advancements infilming, editing, and distribution technologies making it more accessible forfilmmakers from diverse backgrounds. This includes the use of smartphones, drones,
and affordable editing software, which opens up opportunities for more
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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japangrassroots-level documentary projects that can have a substantial impact on socialand political discourses.
In the field of Media and Communication, what is of interest are:
● The future of advertising in the digital age● The evolution of digital platforms
In the field of early childhood development and psychology, "Technology and Child
Readiness" is proposed.
In Clinical Neuroscience, which can spill over to Gerontology, technologically-assisted
rehabilitation is in focus.

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In the field of Gerontology, the use of machine learning in the care of the aged populationand increasing their quality of life is of interest.

iafoInclusivity
The topic of Inclusivity was identified in 16 out of 159 responses (10%). Inclusivity was linked
to Education, Leadership and Management, and in Media, the Arts, and Filmmaking.
Inclusive Education is seen through the following lenses:● More research should be conducted on disability and special education needs● Postcolonial studies and decolonising the curriculum● Gender equity and inclusivity● Diversity and more tolerance in education● Responsive, relational aspects of pedagogy for all● Customised curriculum for different learners● Social inclusion● The introduction of democratic citizenship education to instil in students respect fordiversity: Create a classroom environment that values diversity and promotes respect
for individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Encourage
students to explore and celebrate their own identities while also learning about andappreciating the experiences of others
In Leadership and Management, the following topics are trending:● Inclusive decision-making of leaders in an organisation● Women in leadership positions: there is still a small, but growing number of women in
top leadership positions in academia (in Japan)
In the Arts, Media and Filmmaking the following points have been made:● Inclusive storytelling and diverse narratives. There is a growing trend towards
amplifying marginalised voices and ensuring diverse narratives are represented in
documentary filmmaking. This includes a focus on Indigenous and postcolonial
stories, aiming to correct historical inaccuracies and promote a more nuanced
understanding of identity, culture, and history. This trend underscores the importanceof storytelling as a tool for empowerment, social justice, and cultural preservation.
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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan●●

Ethical filmmaking and collaborative practices: There is an increasing emphasis on
the ethics of representation in documentary filmmaking, especially concerning
Indigenous and postcolonial subjects. This trend is moving towards morecollaborative practices, where filmmakers work closely with the communities they are
portraying to ensure narratives are authentic, respectful, and mutually beneficial. This
collaborative approach is also evident in cross-cultural filmmaking projects, where
diverse teams bring together various perspectives to enrich the storytelling process.
A focus on marginalised, female artists

Skills for the 21st century
The topic of skills, and skill development and acquisition, was identified in 12 out of 159
responses (7,5%). The development of skills was linked to Education, Leadership andManagement, Employability, and the Arts.

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Students and professionals should be able to acquire the following skills for their educational
and professional life:● problem-solving skills● critical thinking in decision-making● evidence-based decision-making● leadership skills● Creative thinking● English for employability● critical and interpretive analysis of Architecture, Design, and Art
One way to promote the acquisition of these skills is through Democratic Citizenship
Education, since it can promote:● Critical Thinking and Inquiry - Promote critical thinking skills by encouraging students
to question and analyse information from diverse perspectives. Provide opportunities
for students to engage in debates, discussions, and research projects where theycan explore complex issues and develop their own informed opinions.
● Democratic Decision-Making - Encourage students to participate in decision-making
processes within the classroom or school. This could involve allowing them to voteon class rules, propose and discuss ideas for school improvement, or collaborate on
projects that address community issues.

Data and Research
The topic of data and research was identified in 10 out of 159 responses (6,3%).
The following topics were seen as innovative and emerging methods in empirical research:● The use of smart technology in data collection● The use of the megastudy approach in addressing the research questions thatcannot easily be addressed using traditional factorial-designed experiments in
psycholinguistics● The use of a "time use survey" as one of the new trends in Economics● The frequent use of the internet as a research tool/ method9Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

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There will be an increase of qualitative research and mixed methods research, with afocus on ethics and sustainable development themes
Corpus tools, Corpus and R language, Corpus and Data analysis for educational
purposes
A focus on Cross-disciplinary studies
Data Analytics and Data Mining

Empathy, Ethics of Care, Emotional Intelligence
The topic of empathy, ethics of care, and emotional intelligence was identified in 8 out of 159
responses (5%). Developing empathy and emotional intelligence was linked to Education,
Leadership and Management, Religion, and Social Psychology.

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In Education, the focus should be on:● social-emotional learning● a pedagogy of compassion and an ethic of careiafo

In Leadership and Management, people in leadership positions should be aware of:● cultural diversity and emotional intelligence● ethical leadership
In Religion Studies, it should be discussed how contemplative practices enhancecompassion, empathy, and interconnection.

In Social Psychology, there are surging trends of cultural factors analysis and how to insert it
into behavioural understanding.

Media and Communication
The theme of Media and Communication was identified in 7 out of 159 responses (4,4%).
Media and Communication was linked to Education, Political Science, and Psychology.
In the field of Education, Media and Communication are seen through:● Media Literacy: Teaching students how to critically evaluate media sources,
recognize bias and misinformation, and become informed consumers of information.
Help them develop the skills they need to navigate the digital world responsibly andparticipate actively in democratic processes.
In Political Science, issues on Media and Communication include:● The role of digital media in promoting political activism, managing social media
platforms, and using new media as an opportunity to promote press freedom● The positive side of media, namely that politicians use it to connect with the mass at
the grassroots level● The negative side of media, namely the challenges posed by misinformation, therising influence of social media influencers, and a significant emphasis on media
ethics10

Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan●

Increased internet regulation through national media projects in several countries has
necessitated that the dialogue around digital media and online technologies shift froman open-ended theoretical realm of experimentation to a more politicised arena
subject to social principles as well as justice and scrutiny

In Psychology, the issues involve:● Subliminal messages within media● Visual communication: Visual communication is becoming more prominent in ourdaily lives, from emojis and memes to infographics and advertising. Understanding
the visual aspects of communication, such as colour, layout, and symbolism, isessential in decoding messages and understanding their cultural significancer

Gerontology and Aging
The area of Gerontology and Aging was identified in 6 out of 159 responses (3,8%). Aging
was linked to Health and Well-being, Social Science, and Political Science.

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In Health and Well-being, aging should be discussed as it relates to:● The Importance of physical fitness in delaying aging and promoting health● Menopausal health and the effect of yoga
● The increase in life expectancy and, hence, the importance of improving aging
perceptual evaluation for enhanced quality of life, well-being and health of older
adults● Senior residents like to be challenged physically and mentally and do not particularly
enjoy retirement
In Social Science, the societal perceptions of aging and ageism should be discussed.
In Political Science, aging should be discussed in relation to institutional change. The
following topics were identified:● The expanding populace of the older adults that require personalised interventions tohandle the existential challenges and decline that come along with the aging process● Most of the strategies regarding older adults interventions are hinged on policy andinstitutional frameworks that focus on objective measures such as wealth, income,health care and insurance. Focusing on subjective aging experiences will help
increase the older adults' well-being and positive functioning

Human Security and International Relations
The topic of Human Security and International Relations was identified in 6 out of 159
responses (3,8%). Human Security was linked to Education, Political Science, and Law.
In the field of Education, human security is addressed through Peace Education:● Education on Conflict Resolution: Provide students with opportunities to practise
constructive communication and conflict resolution skills. Teach them how to listen
actively, express their opinions respectfully, and work collaboratively to find mutuallyacceptable solutions to disagreements or conflicts
11Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

In the field of Political Science, human security is discussed through international relations,foreign policy, and discussions on local government and institutions. The following issues
were identified:● Israel-Palestine conflict resolution● Decolonizing international development● United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform● Chinese foreign policy, China and Regionalism (EU, ASEAN, AU, etc.)● The situation in the Arabian Gulf region and the capabilities of the regional powers,
especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia● Local governments have low formal competencies to solve landscape-level problems
like perennial and pervasive flooding in their regions. Universities in their areas are
not oriented and motivated to provide Capacity-Building assistance, even if they arein the best position to do so.

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In Law, human security should be discussed by addressing detention, conviction, crimes andsecurity.

ia
foSustainable Development
The topic of Sustainability was identified in 5 out of 159 responses (3,1%). Sustainability was
linked to Education, History, and Environmental Science.
In the field of Education, the following ideas were mentioned:● Peace Education for Sustainable Development● Environmental Literacy as part of a Science education curriculum
In the Humanities, the issue of Sustainability is seen through Environmental History:● There is a growing interest in understanding the relationship between humansocieties and the natural environment and exploring how environmental factors haveshaped historical developments and vice versa
In Environmental Science, the following issues were identified:● Environmental agriculture and economics● Sustainable food systems and food security amidst climate change (SDGs 1&2)

Cultural Studies
The broader theme of Cultural Studies was identified in 5 out of 159 responses (3,1%).
Issues that should be addressed in Cultural Studies include the following:● Currently, in Cultural Studies, the trend is to look at cultural production through atransnational lens, looking at how the transnational flows of people, ideas, andcommodities influence the understanding of society● Globalisation requires cultural understanding● A focus on World Heritage Sites and Cultural Heritage Tourism● Discussing the reception of Antiquity in popular culture
12Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan●

Interdisciplinary approaches to Cultural Studies. Human issues and cognition in anintercultural environment are essential topics when discussed from a philosophicaland sustainability perspective. Interaction between people always faces differencesin culture, historical, and social circumstances. An intersubjective exchange is one
possible proposal for this difference

Psychology
The broader theme of Psychology was identified in 5 out of 159 responses (3,1%).
Issues within the theme of Psychology were linked to Education, Technology and Innovation,and Industrial and Organisational psychology.

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In the field of Education, the following should be considered:● There is growing awareness of the central roles that mentorship plays in student
learning and development and the need for faculty mentorship training● The psychological aspects of language teachingiafo

In the field of Technology and Innovation, we should discuss:● How psychological assessment turns technology driven● Political psychology among young people related to information flooding on theinternet
In Industrial and Organisational Psychology, demand to discuss the following issues wasraised:● Customers' consumption patterns of Israeli products due to boycott action (especiallyin Muslim countries like Indonesia); the psychological dynamic of boycotting● The difference in work attitude between Millenials and Gen Z employees● The psychological meaning of money, money habits, stability status, social status,
and work meaning among young people

Globalisation and International Cooperation
Finally, the topic of Globalisation and International Cooperation was identified in 3 out of 159
responses (1,9%). Globalisation was linked mainly to Education, but also to Cultural Studies.
In the field of Education, the globalisation of education and cooperation among institutions isin focus:● The long-term value of international education programmes is becoming less andless visible in the vocational field, and a large part of the reason for this is related to
local policies, industry developments, and other circumstances● International Collaboration and Exchange: Language educators are participating ininternational collaboration and exchange programs to gain cross-cultural
perspectives, share best practices, and enrich their understanding of TBLT, PBLT,
and Cinema integration. Collaborative projects, joint research initiatives, andinternational conferences provide platforms for educators to network, collaborate,and learn from colleagues around the world

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, JapanIn Cultural Studies, the following topic was identified:● As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, there is a growing recognition of
the importance of understanding cultural differences in communication. Cross-culturalcommunication and the impact of globalisation on language and culture are key
areas of study in semiotics and linguistics

2.3 Comparing the WEF Analysis and the IAFOR Members Questionnaire Analysis
Predominantly, the collection of themes proposed by the WEF overlaps with what our IAFOR
Members regard as key issues and trends.

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However, there are a few issues identified by the WEF that are not represented in themembers' voices and vice versa. Significant comparisons can be made in the following
areas:● Topics on Climate Change and Human Rights are not so popular for IAFOR
Members but are an important key issue for the WEF● Topics on Peace & Resilience and Migration, which are important issues for the
WEF—and a major problem for societies and countries today—are not mentioned at
all by IAFOR members● Issues on Leadership and Data & Research Methods are not discussed by the WEF
but are very popular among IAFOR members
In the case of the topics identified by the WEF but not by IAFOR members, a possible
reason for this mismatch may be the area of expertise of respondents. IAFOR does notseem to attract many scholars from outside the Humanities such as the Environmental
Sciences, or from fields of research within the Humanities that fall into Peace & Governance,
International Relations, Economics, or Migration, for instance. IAFOR Members are heavily
focused on Education (please see Appendix: Area of Expertise).
On the other hand, IAFOR Members have identified topics relating to academic research,such as data and methodologies, which are not included in the WEF report. Since IAFOR
conferences are academic in nature, naturally, this signifies a departure from the objectivesof the WEF.
A question to be raised is whether IAFOR would like to expand or make its themes andconferences more attractive to other disciplines.
The following table compares all topics identified by the WEF and IAFOR members, andidentifies which topics overlap and which are distinct for each organisation.

Comparison of Key Issues Between the WEF and IAFOR Members
Field

Topic

WEF

Combined

IAFOR
Members

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Lifestyle, Fitness & LongevityoLongevity and EducationoFinancial Security and Agingo

Healthcare and Long Lives
Aging & Longevity Longevity-ready CitiesooIntergenerational RelationshipsoTechnology, Innovation & LongevityoWorking LongeroInstitutional Change
Cultural and Creative Industrieso

Rights of ArtistsoInclusive CitiesooArts in EducationorHeritage Protection and Cultural
Sustainability

Technology in the ArtsoIntercultural Communication

o

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Arts & CultureoTransitioning to Clean EnergyoBuilding Climate CoalitionsoUnderstanding Climate Risks

Climate Change

Investing in Climate Actiono

The Paris AgreementoSustainable Land Use

The Social Cost of Carbon

EducationooCore Soft SkillsoDigital Fluency and STEM SkillsoRelevant Continuing Educationo

Education InnovationoLifelong Learning PathwaysoQuality Basic EducationoGender Wage Gaps
Gender-Based Violence

Fourth Industrial
RevolutionoooDemocratic Citizenship EducationoGuidance and CounseloTechnology InnovationoTechnology Access and InclusionoDisrupting Jobs, Demanding New Skillso15Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Agency and Trust in TechnologyoFrontier TechnologiesoEthics and IdentityoAgile Technology GovernanceoTechnology and Psychological Development

GlobalGovernanceo

Geopolitical CompetitionoInstitutional CapacityoTechnological InterdependenceoDemands for Justiceo

Polarising NarrativesoFaith and EmpathyoBusinesses Being Accountableo

The Human Rights Impacts of Technology
Human RIghtsorAchieving Diversity and Inclusiono

A Stronger Human Rights System

o

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Safe Spaces for Speaking Upo

A Living Wage for AlloPeople-Centred Climate ActionoMedia Consumer BehaviouroMedia and Emerging TechnologiesoMedia and the Global Social GoodMedia,
Entertainment &
Sport

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Responsible Adoption of AIoMedia Governance and Policyo

The Value of ContentoResponsible Data UseoMedia Trust and AccountabilityoMedia and Psychology

Migration

Inequality and Uneven Development in
Migrationo

Demographic Pusho

Conflict and Security Challenges in MigrationoMigrant RightsoIntegrating MigrantsoMigration Data and Analyticso"Securitisation" and RhetoricoGovernance and Regulation
Talent Patterns in Migrants

o

o
o

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Inclusive Peace ProcessesoHumanitarian Action in Responses to ConflictoPeace and Human Development
Human Rights and Peace
Peace andResilienceooGlobal Governance and Maintaining PeaceoTrust and Locally-Owned Solutionso

A Voice for the YoungoSocial Cohesion and Civic Participation
Detention, Conviction, Crimes & SecurityoPeace Education for Sustainable
DevelopmentooYoung People and Public Safetyor

Next Generation ESG

A Youthful Take on the Future of PoliticsoOpinions on Digital Access and SafeguardsoConscious ConsumerismoYoung People and WorkoSpeaking Up about Public and Mental Health

o

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Youth PerspectivesoLeading the Way to Net Zero

Leadership,
Management &OrganisationoInclusive Decision-Making ProcessesoWomen Leadershipo

Emotional Intelligence in Leaderso

Ethical Leadershipo

Smart Technology in Data CollectionoInnovative Research Methods
Data andResearch Methods InterdisciplinarityoData Analytics & Data Miningoo

3 Capacity-Building Demand Based on IAFOR Members
The capacity-building demand centred around issues in Education, with tendencies towards
practical outcomes over purely academic capacity. The result suggests the growing concern
on the role of technology, as well as improvement in quality and management in Education.
The possible capacity-building programme IAFOR could provide in response to themembers’ needs is to harness the professionals within the following fields to give a sessionof the overview, challenges, and possible solutions in the form of Train the Trainers Courses,

17Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Workshops, or Roundtable Sessions. Additionally, IAFOR could serve as a platform thatbrings academic discussions into practice, as well as further the academic discourse throughcase studies provided by participants.
The tables below show the possible topics for capacity-building sessions in line with the
responses from the members.

3.1 Education Capacity

The Use of Technology andArtificial Intelligence in
Education-

AI in Education
AI role in changing pedagogies
Digitalization in education
Improving education with AI
Developing transferable skills with AI
Building AI skills for various industries
Workshops for language learning with technology
Educational Technology; In particular Language
Translation education-

Education management: risks and possibilities
Higher Education in Southeast Asia that works
Topics in higher education quality
Reform in Higher Education
Inclusive Education
Corporate Social Responsibility for the education
sector-Interdisciplinary approaches can enrich the learning
experience and contribute to solving complex
problems
Social challenges that education needs to consider,global citizenship ambitions in education for the futurevs. old school of learning & teaching
Democratic Education
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education
International education, migration, and policyia
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Education Management

Members’ Responsesr

Suggested Topics

Education Delivery in theTime of Change-

Well-being in Education-

Mental health and well-being among educators,
students, and academic professionals

Teacher’s Capacity Building-

STEM teacher capacity-building
Teacher Education for different tiers of education
Teacher Education a multidisciplinary approach
Professional Development and Collaboration
Academic performance, underachievers

Curriculum Development-

Teaching and Learning
Curriculum development
How can education contribute to enhancing
compassion?

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan-

Academic Literacy courses to improve/enhancecontent course performance

3.2 Research Publication Capacity
Suggested Topics
Research and Collaboration

Members’ Responses--

Critical Thinking in Teaching & Learning

Leadership within Academia-

Academic leadership

Publication-

Getting published for junior faculty
Publications in high-impact journalsiafo

Formulating Critical Thinkingr-International collaboration research workshop
Innovative research methodology, e.g., a workshop
on how to use a big-data approach to address
research questions in psychology
Networking opportunities, research resources andcollaboration opportunities
Research advising and publication
Social science research methodology
Getting international grant funding for research
The ability and opportunity to do research acrosscountries

3.3 Managerial Capacity
Suggested Topics

Members’ Responses

Leadership-

Women’s Leadership
Leadership and empowerment
Academic leadership

Business Management-

Operations Management
Economic Development

Human Capital Development-

Human Capital Development

4 New IAFOR Projects
During the COVID-19 pandemic, IAFOR experienced a contraction of its internal structure
and projects. We are currently in the recovery phase and are able to restructure andreintroduce projects that had been put on hold for some time. During the past few months,
IAFOR has been working on a series of new projects, which will be discussed in this section.

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

4.1 Roundtable Discussions at IAFOR Conferences
IAFOR is planning to introduce roundtable discussions at our conferences. Roundtables are
not only able to produce academic knowledge, address important zeitgeist issues from aninterdisciplinary view, and set agendas, but can also work as excellent networking
opportunities and ice-breaker sessions.

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According to IAFOR's mission, roundtables should conform to the international,
interdisciplinary, and intercultural foundations of the Forum. As such, these roundtables will
be open to all conference participants, regardless of their nationality, discipline, or whether
they are audience members or presenters. We plan to have only one topic up for discussion
in hopes that different tables, composed of varied interdisciplinary individuals, will havedifferent perspectives, approaches, and solutions to the same topic.

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The aims for these roundtable discussions are:● to give a platform for the grassroots to discuss their views and solutions● to produce a section in the conference reports dedicated to "views from the ground"● to generate perspectives that may be different from top-down political approaches tothese issues, with the view of becoming something of importance to leaders in the
future● to generate future possible discussions for plenary sessions at IAFOR conferences● to offer a networking opportunity to conference participants● to enhance more academic discussion within the conference timeline
The first roundtable discussion is planned to take place at the Asian Conference on Cultural
Studies (ACCS), the Asian Conference on Social Studies (ACSS), and the Asian Conferenceon Arts & Humanities (ACAH) in Tokyo this coming May. As a pilot project, the duration of
the roundtables is set to 1 hour and 45 minutes, during which discussants will introduce
themselves, assign roles (moderators and secretaries), discuss a topic, create posters, andpresent their results at a poster session.
The end products from these discussions are hoped to be: an outline of the discussion inbullet points to be used as a reference for the conference report, a poster to be used forpresentation and for marketing purposes, and short interviews of each group to be used in
the conference report and for marketing purposes.
Based on the performance of the roundtable discussions in May, this project is planned totake place at every IAFOR conference in the future.

4.2 IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium
The IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium (IURS) is the continuum of its
predecessor, the Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium (AURS), which has been held20

Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japanin conjunction with the main IAFOR conferences. The goal of the symposium is to build
academic capacity among undergraduate students, with a focus on critical thinking and oralpresentation skills through a two-day programme. The first day is held online, focusing on
shaping ideas and giving effective presentations. The second day is held onsite, usually on
the plenary day of the main conference, as a Poster Presentation Session. Participants will
join in a short workshop-like briefing session to learn and practise giving a presentation
before delivering a full presentation of their research on their own. The poster session
extends for a duration of 60 minutes and will be attended by academics participating in themain conference. The IURS programme offers the opportunity for undergraduate students toexperience an authentic academic conference, learn from professional academics, andmake new connections with like-minded peers. Participants will receive a Certificate ofPresentation after the symposium.

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The IURS targets local undergraduate students where the conference takes place, as wellas international students who may want to participate. Students across disciplines arewelcome to join the symposium. To strengthen IAFOR’s commitment to contribute to theacademic community and increase participation, IAFOR is offering institutional support on
the registration fee for all presentations accepted to the symposium. Moreover, the IURS canbe widely promoted through the university professors who are already coming to the main
IAFOR conferences. Faculty members from ACE2023 expressed their high interest in
bringing their undergraduate students to the symposium when they learned about the
AURS11 being held alongside the main conference, citing the symposium as a great
opportunity for students to actively prepare and participate in an academic environment.
In 2024, the IURS will be introduced for the first time at the 12th European Conference on
Education in London (IURS London 2024), and later at the upcoming education conferencesin Incheon, Korea (October), Tokyo (November), and Hawaii (January 2025). The IURS will
broaden and deepen IAFOR’s recognition and contribution to a wider international academic
community, corresponding to its core values of the "International, Intercultural, andInterdisciplinary."

4.3 The IAFOR Global Fellowship Programme

The IAFOR Global Fellowship Programme will invite early and mid-career professionals andscholars who are making a difference in their own countries to harness the IAFOR network.
Through this network, selected fellows can expand their scope and horizons, and bring theirwork to wider attention in a process of iterative growth and shared learning that will benefit
from and contribute to the IAFOR community, and to international, intercultural, andinterdisciplinary dialogue at large. Scholars and professionals will be selected on this key
criterion but may come from any field, in keeping with IAFOR’s mission.
Under the 2024/2025 theme of “independent voices”, the fellowship will be driven by the
focus and desires of the individual fellow to craft a project that will contribute to and benefit
from the IAFOR network and its events, and contribute to collaborative work, with an

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expectation of engaging in mentoring in a way that emphasises dialogue reflexivity andmutual growth.
Fellows will be expected to contribute to the work of the forum in the form of presentations,publications, and public communication.
The programme will initially focus on scholars and professionals from East Asia (Japan,
China, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macao). If the pilot is successful, we anticipate
expanding it to include our wider networks globally.
Applicants will be able to choose from one of three fellowship courses:r

Course 1: Fellowship Programme (Japan Based)
This program provides support for researchers and practitioners from Japan, China,
Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macao to conduct research activities as apaid research fellow at the International Academic Forum offices in Nagoya, Japan.
In addition to being able to pursue their own research and scholarly interests, fellows
will take part in a residential programme, research conferences, and contribute to
IAFOR’s research and/or scholarly output.

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Course 2: Fellowship Programme (International)
This programme provides support for researchers, scholars, and practitioners fromJapan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macao to conduct scholarly or
creative activities in East Asia. At least half of the fellowship tenure period must be
spent in Japan. In addition to being able to pursue their own research, scholarly, or
creative interests, fellows will take part in a residential programme, research
conferences, and contribute to IAFOR’s research and/or scholarly output.
Course 3: Student Fellowship ProgrammeThis programme provides financial support for students from China, Taiwan, South
Korea, Hong Kong, and Macao to study in Japan, and for Japanese students to study
in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, or Macao. As well as being able topursue their own scholarly or creative interests, student fellows will take part in a
residential programme, research conferences, and contribute to IAFOR’s research
output.

More information about this programme can be found at:https://iafor.org/iafor-global-fellowship-programme/

4.4 Other Upcoming Projects
IAFOR is currently discussing the possibility of creating new projects to expand our reachand create a wider, inclusive community. Among the ideas expressed during various

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meetings since the start of 2024 were the following:
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Holding seminars or discussion-sessions among Japanese graduate students. We
have identified a lack of collaboration among Japanese university graduate students
currently pursuing their master's and doctoral degrees. We hope to create discussion
sessions or seminars with graduate students in an inter-university collaboration
attempt. To this end, we have already been in discussions with the Japanese Society
for International Development for Youth (JASID for Youth), a subsidiary of JASID led
by several graduate students. We also held preliminary, informal discussions withprofessors who expressed enthusiasm in getting their students involved in thisproject and working on a knowledge exchange between universities.
Podcasts. We would like to create a series of podcasts in which we interview experts
and professionals either about key issues and trends within their fields of expertise,or offering capacity-building opportunities and tips.
THINK Magazine. We are currently thinking about how to reintroduce the magazine
and what its scope will be. Since we are expecting to be able to generate much moreacademic content from our conferences, the magazine may be one good way topresent all academic debates. The target audience and format also need to be
decided.

5 Summary and Action Points

The above analysis confirms that IAFOR’s strength lies in its ability to gather ideas andperspectives from people who find themselves at the receiving end of policies and havefirsthand experience with how global issues impact communities and the marginalised.
Practitioners, academics, and graduate students are in a unique position to criticise policies
and give feedback “from the ground” to counter top-down decision-making and highly
politicised perspectives. IAFOR’s strength is essentially the fact that it is not a policy
think-tank but an academic community that can counterbalance political decision-making
with evidence-based logic. As such, IAFOR should continue capitalising on its ability to bring
together people from around the world and engage them in dialogue to find solutions to the“what” and “why” questions that formal institutions raise.
Discussions in this forum should focus on how we can take some of the big ideas and realise
them in intelligent ways, considering what they mean in our day to day lives, in theclassrooms, and in everyday educational delivery as well as policy.
Action points:
1. Considering that majority of experts and academics that IAFOR attracts come froman Education background, it may be necessary to redirect IAFOR’s focus: do wewant to emphasise the educational aspect and how it relates to otherdisciplines, or do we want to expand our interdisciplinary discussions to focus
on other disciplines as well?

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2. Considering also the themes that IAFOR’s members are interested in, what themes
should be discussed in future conferences? Do we want a hybrid discussion ofimportant global issues on the one hand, and more practical,
academic/professional issues on the other hand? Is this distinction in themes
something that capacity-building sessions can fix?

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3. Our current programme at IAFOR conferences offers plenary sessions, parallelsessions, and roundtables. We can introduce capacity-building sessions as well, we
can take the form of presentations or workshops. Do we want to offer
capacity-building sessions? If yes, which ones from the list?

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Appendix25Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

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IAFOR members' demographic information (from 159 responses)

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IAFOR Members' area of expertise (from 159 responses)

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Intelligence Report prepared for the IAB Strategic Planning Summit March 29, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan

Published by IAFOR
April 202428