Report on the FY 2026 Student Gathering Event for the Student Communities Project
- Students Discussed AI Literacy -

On September 16 and 17, 2026, a Student Gathering Event was held at KEIHANNA PLAZA in Kyoto Prefecture for Japanese students participating in the Student Communities Project under GPAI Associated projects.

The event was attended by 32 students from the University of Tsukuba, Toyo University and Doshisha University (two research groups), along with five academic supervisors, including one professor from Hyogo University.With “AI literacy” as the theme, students reflected on their own daily use of AI and discussed principles to guide their use of AI.They also visited research institutes and took part in an international exchange with the Indian Student Community.

■About the Student Communities Project 　
The Student Communities Project is an international initiative implemented by the three Centres of the GPAI Expert Community in Tokyo, Paris, and Montreal. 　
In the Japanese student community supported by the Tokyo Centre, students participate in the Student-led Field Research Programme under the guidance of their academic supervisor. They interview companies and other organizations that have adopted AI and analyze its impact on industry and society. 　
At this gathering, the students shared the investigation conducted by their respective groups and exchanged views on how to engage with AI across university and research group boundaries.

■Visits to Research Institutes 　
On September 16, the first day, the gathering began with opening remarks by Dr. HARAYAMA Yuko, Secretary General of the Tokyo Centre. The students then visited the Universal Communication Research Institute (UCRI) of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), NTT Communication Science Laboratories (NTT CS Labs), and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR). 　
During their visit to these research institutes, the students learned about research and development in AI and efforts being made to put it into practical use. The visits deepened their understanding of how the use of AI in different aspects of society and daily life may affect people, as well as what to consider when using AI.

■Developing Three Rules for Using AI in small groups
On September 17, the second day, each research group introduced its members and presented the research it had conducted so far, along with its progress. The students then divided into small groups to discuss three themes: “How do we use AI?”, “Are we using AI in the right way?”, and “How can we become smart users of AI?”
Reflecting on their daily use of AI, the students discussed what they should keep in mind and what responsible use might look like. Each group then developed and presented its own “Three Rules for Using AI.”

■Exchanging Views with the Indian Student Community
The students also joined an online exchange with the Indian Student Community, established by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA).
Students from Japan and India each presented their “Three Rules for Using AI” and discussed similarities and differences in their approaches. Sharing experiences and perspectives across cultural backgrounds gave them an opportunity to consider their relationship with AI from an international perspective.

■Next Steps
The participating students will compile their research findings into reports, which are scheduled to be published on the Tokyo Centre’s website. An Activity Reporting Meeting is planned for March 2027 to review the year’s activities. The Tokyo Centre and the participating students plan to share their research findings with a wider audience on various occasions.

■Participants
・Students: 32
　University of Tsukuba, Toyo University, and Doshisha University (two research groups)
・Academic supervisors: 5
　Professor KONISHI Yoko, University of Tsukuba
　Professor NAKANO Masafumi, Toyo University
　Professor FUJIMOTO Masayo and Professor KATSUNO Hirofumi, Doshisha University
　Professor MIYAZAKI Kosei, Hyogo University

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