Applications are currently being accepted for the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program 2027. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About RYCO Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program
The Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program 2027 in Japan is a 7-day cultural and academic youth exchange program for undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students aged 20 or older from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The program runs from 20-26 January 2027 and welcomes 13 participants to explore peacebuilding, reconciliation, and Japan’s policies through visits to institutions and cultural activities.
The program is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). RYCO is an independently functioning institutional mechanism founded by the Western Balkans 6 participants to promote reconciliation and cooperation among youth through exchange programs. MOFA and RYCO have collaborated on this initiative since 2018 under the MIRAI Program, now in its seventh consecutive year.
Benefits of RYCO Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program
- Round trip international air tickets to Japan by economy class
- Overseas travel and accident insurance
- Accommodation and transportation in Japan
- Meals during the program
- Admission fees for scheduled activities in Japan
- Participants must pay personal expenses including passport, visa acquisition, vaccination, excess baggage, travel between home and designated airport, and souvenirs
RYCO Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program Requirements
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD program in the Western Balkans
- Be aged 20 years or older at the time of application
- Live in one of the Western Balkans societies and hold a passport issued by one of the WB6
- Have a good command of English
- Be motivated to disseminate information on Japan’s attractions through various communication tools
- Have good academic achievements and social activism
- Not have participated in exchange or similar programs by the Government of Japan
- Not have lived in Japan
- Respect the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation in the Western Balkans
- Have a valid passport
- Applicants with demonstrated ties to Japan through previous studies or cultural activities are considered an asset
- Desirable to have a proven track record in dealing with the past, reconciliation, regional cooperation or intercultural learning
- Applicants with Japanese nationality are NOT eligible
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
31 August, 2026
Opportunity Application
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RYCO Western Balkans Meet Japan Youth Exchange Program
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