Imperial-Tokyo Tech Global Fellows Programme
Good Health and Wellbeing
09 - 13 September 2024

Imperial College London is delighted to partner with Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) for the 4th bilateral Global Fellows Programme, taking place from 09-13 September 2024. The in-person programme will take place in London, hosted by Imperial College London.   

In the current scientific environment international and interdisciplinary collaborations and networking are fundamental to developing successful projects. In a competitive research environment funding bodies increasingly look for interdisciplinary, collaborative research with partners from around the world. The modern researcher requires both excellence in research and strong professional collaborative competencies.  

Over the course of one week approximately 30 doctoral researchers from Tokyo Tech and Imperial will develop collaborative interdisciplinary competencies and intercultural awareness required to establish and continue successful collaborations.  

During this 5-day programme, participants will work in interdisciplinary and intercultural groups, assisted by a coach from one of the partner universities. Participants will enhance: 

  • Their ability to work collaboratively on research ideas
  • Their ability to network and communicate effectively with impact in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams
  • Their intercultural and international competency and awareness
  • Their creativity to develop collaborative research ideas
  • Their appreciation of research in international institutions

Participants will also have the opportunity to apply those skills and competencies to address topics under the programme theme “Good health and wellbeing”.

Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Good health and wellbeing’ aims to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all, at all ages. There is a global inequality of access to good health and wellbeing, with notable differences observed by age, gender and location. The recent UN report on progress towards the 2030 targets has re-emphasised that more work is required as some targets have stalled.

Promoting healthy lifestyles and the provision of preventative measures for health and wellbeing issues is critical for all societies. Responding to new health risks requires early warning, risk reduction and incident management at both a national and international level. Challenges remain to provide increased health care access and access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines.

Further measures are required to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and to reduce the incidence of and mortality rates resulting from epidemics and tropical diseases and to combat water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

Other areas of concern include actions to promote mental health and well-being, to reduce illness and deaths from hazardous chemicals, air, water and soil pollution and contamination, and the reduction of mortalities from traffic accidents.

Health care access will also require increased health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce.

During the program, participants will engage in intercultural, interdisciplinary and cross-sector discussions and develop their own creative approaches to achieving good health and wellbeing.

Guest speakers from Imperial and Tokyo Tech will provide participants with insight into current research related to the programme theme.

A background on the subject is not essential, doctoral candidates from any discipline are invited to apply for this 5-day Global fellows Programme.

Student Experiences from last year’s Imperial-Tokyo Tech GFP: 

‘For me the GFP was an outstanding, and probably one of a kind opportunity, that helped me improving my personal, communicative, and collaborative skills.’

‘A fantastic and intensely beautiful course that will open your mind to so many new things’

‘It was an amazing experience I am inspired to work on other collaborative projects’

‘Being a Global Fellow is a wonderful experience, not only on the specific topic, but the development as a researcher as a whole.’

You can read student experiences of previous Global Fellows Programmes on this webpage.  

Any additional queries not answered in webpages, please contact Laura Bulmer & Beth Yates

Further Information

Eligibility and How to Apply

Imperial College London participants must:

  • Be a current doctoral student from any discipline (note: this programme is not open to MRes students)
  • Be at least 6 months into your PhD at the time the programme takes place in September 2024. Due to the intensive nature of this course, it is recommended that students who are in their writing up period do not apply. 
  • Not have taken part in a previous Imperial College Global Fellows Programme.

Please note that if applying to multiple upcoming Global Fellows Programmes, applicants can be selected for one only.

This programme counts towards the attendance requirement for the PhD Early stage Assessment and Late Stage Review at Imperial College London.

Application Process

Doctoral students need to complete an application form by 5pm (BST) on Monday 22 July 2024. 

Applicants should:

  • Explain how their current competencies, skills and knowledge (e.g. communication skills, adaptability, technical skills, creativity) can support the development of innovations linked to “Good health and wellbeing
  • Explain what they expect to contribute to and gain from the programme
  • Explain how they will act as an ambassador for Imperial College London – Imperial participants will be expected to act as hosts for the visitors from Tokyo Tech
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for engaging with international peers from Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Show their willingness to share their experiences within the Imperial College London post-graduate community after the programme.

Outcomes are expected to be communicated in mid-June. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to formally accept their place and confirm their full participation in the GFP.  

Note: Due to the large volume of applications received it is not possible to provide feedback on individual applications.

Practical Details
  • The GFP takes place from Monday 09 - Friday 13 September 2024
  • The GFP is an intense 5-day programme, participants are required to attend all 5 days of the programme. We recommend that you take leave from your usual workload to benefit most from the programme. Please discuss the time commitment involved with your supervisor in advance. Supervisors must have agreed to your participation in the programme.
  • The programme will take place in London on Imperial College London South Kensington Campus (4 days) and the White City campus (1 day). 
  • Lunch will be provided on programme days during the week. 
  • Programme days are expected to be 9am - 5pm with evening events planned for the Monday and Wednesday. 
  • Imperial participants are expected to act as hosts for the visitors from Tokyo Institute of Technology during their time in London and Imperial.
Funding for research visits

All participants on the programme will have the opportunity to apply for £1000 funding to support a 1-3 month research visit to Tokyo Tech in the 12 months following the programme. To allow for registration and visa processes it is recommended that visits are planned for January-July 2025. Visits must be completed by July 31st 2025.

Participants will receive more details following successful completion of the programme.

Participants will be responsible for finding a research host at Tokyo Tech and research visits must be approved by participants’ Imperial supervisor.

Covid-19

Potential impacts of Covid-19 will be continuously monitored, and adjustments to overseas opportunities may be required at short notice. The College will need to adhere to opportunity provider’s requirements as well as to UK and international travel advice and restrictions. All students will be kept informed. In the event of cancellation, the College would work with partners to consider possible alternatives, including remote delivery.  

Online information session and Q&A

Join us on Tuesday 16th July at 2pm for an online information session and Q&A to find out more! Sign up here