Griffith law student boards the Ship for World Youth

Lachlan Ryan is studying the Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political and International studies

Griffith Law student Lachlan Ryan will set sail next year after being selected to represent Australia alongside 11 other delegates for a unique international exchange funded by the Japanese Government.

The Ship for World Youth program invites young people from several participating countries including Australia, Chile, Sweden, Tanzania and Japan, to discuss global issues and develop their skills in leadership and cross-cultural communication.

Lachlan will spend a week doing on-shore training in Tokyo, which includes a cultural exchange in a Japanese prefecture, before boarding the Nippon Maru cruise ship for four weeks.

During the four week voyage, the Nippon Maru will call into ports in Darwin, Brisbane, the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Palau, giving participants the opportunity to learn about different cultures.

Lachlan says he expects that this knowledge and skills from his Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political and International studies, will be put to good use.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the delegates from around the world and to learn their perspective. I want to know how they think, operate and solve problems,” he says.

Lachlan will take part in the 31st voyage for this program, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Era (1868-1912), a period of rapid modernisation in Japan according to the Australian Japanese Embassay.