Global Citizen Fellowship 2026 Launches Second Year with Diverse Cohort and Spring Retreat
On April 4, 2026, JICUF officially launched the second year of the Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) with a kickoff event at ICU. The eight-month fellowship brings together students from Japanese universities who are committed to deepening their understanding of themselves, the world around them, and their responsibility to contribute to the well-being of humanity.
Fully funded by JICUF, the fellowship combines two weekend retreats in Japan, a two-and-a-half-week intensive program in New York City, a social impact project, individual coaching, and peer learning opportunities. Through these interconnected experiences, fellows are challenged to better understand themselves, engage thoughtfully with the world around them, and translate their values into meaningful action.
The program is led by Paul Hastings, President and CEO of JICUF, in partnership with Yuri Morikawa, an ICU graduate whose pioneering work in executive coaching, leadership development, team building, and facilitation has helped shape these fields in Japan. Together, they guide fellows through a process of reflection, dialogue, and personal growth throughout the year. The fellowship is also supported by the broader JICUF team, which works closely with participants to create a transformative learning experience.
This year’s cohort consists of 12 fellows, including nine students from ICU and one student each from Aoyama Gakuin University, Kindai University, and Kwansei Gakuin University. The inclusion of students from multiple institutions marks an important step in the continued growth of the fellowship, creating opportunities for participants to learn from peers with different academic backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
The first major milestone after the April kickoff came on May 16–17, when the cohort gathered at the Shonan Village Center in Kanagawa Prefecture for the Spring Weekend Retreat. Designed around the themes of self-discovery, relationship building, and community formation, the retreat provided fellows with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves while beginning to build a strong and supportive learning community.
Throughout the retreat, fellows participated in a variety of individual and group activities that encouraged them to reflect on significant moments in their lives, explore their values, and better understand their strengths and contributions. Through exercises such as “Life Chapters,” participants shared personal stories, listened deeply to one another’s experiences, and gained a greater appreciation for the diverse perspectives represented within the cohort. Fellows also worked together to create a “Team Alliance,” establishing shared commitments and guiding principles that will help shape their experience throughout the fellowship.
By the end of the retreat, a strong sense of trust and connection had begun to emerge among the participants. While many had entered the program as strangers, they departed the retreat with new friendships, a deeper understanding of one another, and a stronger foundation for the journey ahead.
The next major stage of the fellowship will take place in August, when fellows travel to New York City for a two-and-a-half-week immersive learning experience. During the New York Program, participants will engage with a diverse range of non-profit organizations, social impact leaders, and international institutions working to address pressing local and global challenges. Through site visits, guest speakers, and facilitated discussions, fellows will explore how individuals and organizations contribute to positive social change.
A highlight of the New York experience will be a two-night, three-day retreat at The Uplands, located in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Taking place midway through the New York Program, the retreat will provide fellows with an opportunity to step away from the pace of the city, reflect on what they are learning, and consider how they hope to contribute to the world. At The Uplands, the fellows will also begin to develop their social impact projects.
A central part of the fellowship, each fellow will receive a ¥100,000 grant to design and implement a social impact project addressing an issue that matters to them. The projects challenge participants to move beyond reflection and learning toward action, applying the principles of global citizenship through meaningful engagement with people and communities.
In addition to implementing their social impact projects during the fall, fellows will continue meeting through online sessions, peer learning groups, and individual coaching. The fellowship also features a final residential retreat at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Tochigi Prefecture in October, where participants will reflect on their experiences, integrate their learning, and consider how they can continue living out the responsibilities of global citizenship in their future studies, careers, and communities.
The 2026 Global Citizen Fellowship will culminate on December 5 at ICU, when fellows gather to present their social impact projects and celebrate the completion of a transformative eight-month journey of self-discovery, community, and action.
