Event

Together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Waseda University will host a career seminar aimed at providing students with an opportunity to engage directly with UNDP professionals and gain insights into how international organizations address global challenges.

UNDP advances sustainable development across more than 170 countries and territories around the world, addressing complex global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, and conflict. These efforts are supported by skilled professionals with a diverse range of specialties and experiences.

In line with Waseda University’s aim to foster individuals who contribute to the international community, the event will serve as a platform for students to reflect on how their education, values, and aspirations can connect to global challenges and collective efforts toward sustainable development.

The seminar will feature keynote remarks by Mr. Jean-Luc Marcelin from UNDP, who will share perspectives on talent development, recruitment, and the evolving competencies required in today’s international organizations. This will be followed by a panel discussion with Waseda alumni currently serving in various capacities across UNDP, who will reflect on their professional journeys, lessons learned, and experiences working on global development challenges.

By bringing together students, alumni, and UNDP professionals, the event seeks to strengthen the partnership between Waseda University and UNDP while encouraging meaningful dialogue on global citizenship, public service, and pathways to international engagement.

We look forward to welcoming many students and members of the public.

◆Event Overview◆

Title: From Waseda to the World: Shaping the Future through the United Nations

Date:  5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M, Wednesday, July 15, 2026
*The venue will open at 4:45 P.M.
*Individual consultation sessions are planned after the seminar.

Venue:  Room 101, Building 15 (Waseda Campus)

Audience:  Students

Language:  English (Japanese interpretation will not be available.)

If you wish to attend, please pre-register here.  

◆Guest profile◆

Jean-Luc Marcelin
Strategic Partnerships and Outreach Specialist, Office of Human Resources, Bureau for Management Services UNDP

Jean-Luc Marcelin is a Strategic Partnerships and Outreach Specialist in the UNDP Bureau for Management Services, Office of Human Resources. His main functions are as follows:

• Lead communications and partnership activities related to the UNDP People Programmes (including Fellowship, Junior Professional Officer, and Technical Expert Programmes).
• Lead the implementation of the UNDP employer branding and HR outreach activities.
• Focal point in the UNDP Office of Human Resources for resource mobilization and institutional partnerships with donor countries and other partner entities. This includes coordinating the implementation of the HR Action Plan to support the presence of Japanese nationals in the UNDP workforce.

Jean-Luc graduated from the Institute of Political Sciences (Sciences Po) in Paris. He has 30 years of work experience in cooperation and programme development activities, including 25 years with the UN.

Naoki Nihei
Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization Advisor, UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo

Naoki Nihei holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Education, Waseda University.
He has over 20 years of experience in international development, peacebuilding, and human security across bilateral and multilateral organizations, including UNDP, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), with a particular focus on Central Asia. Throughout his career, he has held positions at headquarters and field offices across the region and spent seven years working in Central Asia and the Caucasus Region.
Since 2022, he has served as Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization Advisor at the UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo. In this role, he leads partnership-building and resource mobilization efforts with the Government of Japan in support of UNDP’s sustainable development initiatives in Central Asia and crisis recovery assistance for Ukraine.
He is fluent in Japanese, English, and Russian.

Asako Sakurai
UNV Partnership Development Specialist

After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology from Waseda University, she worked in the private sector before earning a Master’s degree in Education and International Development from the Institute of Education, University of London (UCL).
Following an internship at the United Nations University, she worked for an international NGO in Haiti, supporting water, sanitation, and education programmes for children with disabilities.
She later managed disability inclusion programmes in Tajikistan and Myanmar at the NGO’s headquarters. She subsequently served with UNESCO’s East Africa Regional Office as a United Nations Volunteer (UNV), and later worked with UNDP through the JPO Programme at the UNDP Arab States Bureau in New York, UNDP Djibouti, and UNDP Central African Republic.

Mariko Hamaguchi
Partnership and Programme Assistant, UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo

Mariko Hamaguchi graduated from the School of International Liberal Studies at Waseda University. During her studies, she spent one year as an exchange student at George Washington University and gained fieldwork experience in India, as well as internship experience at the UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo.
She joined UNDP in March 2025 and currently serves as a Partnership and Programme Assistant. In her current role, she supports partnership-building and engagement with the Government of Japan, private sector partners, and other stakeholders, while contributing to projects across Europe and the CIS region, including Ukraine and Central Asia.

Hana Saeki
UNDP Public Partnership Intern

Hana Saeki is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University.
She graduated from Sophia University’s Faculty of Global Studies and completed study abroad programmes in Canada’s McGill University and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
After interning with an international NGO and a government-affiliated think tank, she joined the UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo as a Public Partnership Intern in January 2026.
She currently supports engagement with the Government of Japan and contributes to projects related to Business and Human Rights, Central Asia, and Ukraine.

◆Inquiry◆

International Office, Waseda University　[email protected]

*To those who require accommodation
Attendees who desire accommodations (PC speech-to-text interpretation; sign-language interpretation; guidance at venue; securing of seats), including those bringing children, should inform us at least 2 weeks before the date of the event. Upon consultation, we will accommodate your request to the greatest extent possible.

◆Co-hosted by◆

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

◆Related Links◆

United Nations Development Programme