Dmelt Inc. Begins Joint Research with Professor Tatsuya Horita of Tokyo University of Education

Dmelt Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Directors: Tomonori Tazaki, Ichirota Nakata), a venture originating from Tokyo University of Education, has entered into a joint research agreement with the National University Corporation Tokyo University of Education (Koganei-shi, Tokyo, President: Yukitoshi Sasaki). In collaboration with Tatsuya Horita, Vice President and Director of the Center for Advanced Educational Human Resource Development at the university, research and development has commenced on a next-generation education model based on "Career Crafting" in the era of AX (AI Transformation).

Background of the Research

The rapid spread of digital technologies, including generative AI, has led to significant automation of routine work. Concurrently, discussions about uniquely human capabilities are more active than ever. As society transforms through AX (AI Transformation), the very nature of work is also changing dramatically. The "multi-stage life," where individuals learn continuously while juggling multiple jobs and roles, is expanding, and the concept of a career is shifting from "decided once and for all" to "something that is proactively updated throughout one's life."

Internationally, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in its "Learning Compass 2030" published in 2019, placed "agency," the ability of learners to set their own goals and act proactively, and "well-being," aiming for the realization of sustainable happiness for individuals and society, at the core of education. Furthermore, in "Teaching Compass" published in 2025, it highlighted the importance of teachers themselves being professionals who continuously learn and enhance their expertise.

In the current AX era, there is growing interest in the common theme of "how to foster individuals who can proactively forge their own careers towards well-being" across both "human resource development in companies" and "school education," domains that have traditionally been discussed in separate contexts. In national education policy, connecting proactive learning with career formation is positioned as an important requirement. This joint research is a practical initiative launched in response to these societal trends.

Central Concept of This Research: Career Crafting

"Career Crafting" is the proactive updating of one's career in response to changes in values and interests, rather than passively following it. Originating from research on "Job Crafting," which involves proactively devising ways to perform one's current job, the concept was initially developed in the field of human resource development and organizational behavior in companies. However, its systematic application to school education remains an underexplored area. It is becoming established as a field with a solid empirical research base, with the development of scales and empirical studies targeting working adults, and validation of Japanese versions.

Objectives and Overview of This Joint Research

This research aims to organize the qualities and abilities necessary for learners to continuously shape their own lives proactively, with "Career Crafting" as its core, and to implement it in school education and expand it to society. With the deepening of proactivity and its connection to career formation as the theoretical axis, the following initiatives will be undertaken by the end of fiscal year 2026:

A. Organization of Qualities and Abilities Qualities and abilities necessary for continuously updating one's career proactively will be organized. Simultaneously, the qualities and abilities required for educators who support learners will be organized to create a framework that can be practically utilized in educational settings.

B. Program Development and Demonstration Program proposals tailored to learners' developmental stages will be organized, and actual programs will be developed.

C. Discussion with Teacher Training Students and In-service Teachers The practical usefulness and applicability of the framework created in this research will be examined through interviews and feedback from teacher training students and in-service teachers.

D. Formulation of Standard Data Format for Thought, Action, and Reflection Logs A standard data format will be designed for continuously recording and accumulating learners' thought, action, and reflection processes.

Collaboration with Tokyo University of Education, a Flagship University for Teacher Training

Tokyo University of Education, designated as a flagship university for teacher training by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has been engaged in research and practice of "Autonomous Curriculum Design" since 2023 as a leading university in teacher training in Japan. Through a cyclical process of "Self-understanding and Goal Setting," "Designing Learning by Picturing One's Growth," "Confirming Growth Trajectory, Reflection and Outlook," and "Exploration of New Self-Image," it has built and pioneered the practice and verification of a teacher training model that enables students to proactively design their own learning and careers.

Through alignment with these advanced initiatives of Tokyo University of Education, this research aims to contribute to the development of next-generation educational human resources who will live in the AX era.

Comment from Professor Tatsuya Horita (Tokyo University of Education)

Amidst significant changes in society and industrial structure, how to foster learners' ability to learn proactively and form their own careers is one of the important challenges in school education. This theme is also a key point in the ongoing revision of the Course of Study.

From the perspective of Tokyo University of Education, which is responsible for nurturing next-generation educational human resources, I feel great potential in this joint research that re-examines "Career Crafting" within the context of school education. Together with Dmelt Inc., we will advance research towards the construction of a next-generation education model required by the society of the future and its social implementation.

Profile of Professor Tatsuya Horita

Vice President, Tokyo University of Education; Professor, Graduate School of Teacher Education, Tokyo University of Education; Director, Center for Advanced Educational Human Resource Development. Specializes in Educational Technology, Information Education, and Media Education. Visiting Inspector, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Senior Fellow, National Institute for Educational Policy Research; Professor Emeritus, Tohoku University. Served as a member of the Central Council for Education, involved in policy and research related to the formulation of the next Course of Study, the digitalization of education including the GIGA School Program, digital learning infrastructure, and the utilization of educational data.

Comment from Dmelt Inc. Joint Research Representative

Tomonori Tazaki

"Career Crafting" is a concept that has developed in the fields of corporate human resource development and organizational behavior. However, approaches to systematically incorporate this concept into school education have not been sufficiently established until now. Tokyo University of Education's "Autonomous Curriculum Design" is an advanced practice with high affinity for "Career Crafting" in the development of educational human resources. Through this joint research, we aim to build an educational model for learners to proactively learn and continuously shape their own careers, and to create new knowledge that connects school education with society.

Ichirota Nakata

With the spread of generative AI, learning and working styles are at a major turning point. In the coming era, in addition to the ability to utilize AI, the capacity to continuously update learning and careers through one's own experiences and reflections will be important. In this joint research, we will connect practical knowledge from the educational field with expertise in AI and data utilization to create a system that supports proactive career formation for each individual. In the future, we aim to widely return the knowledge gained from this research to society and develop it into initiatives that support proactive learning and career formation for everyone.

Company Profile of Dmelt Inc.

Item

Details

Company Name

Dmelt Inc.

Establishment

April 3, 2024

Location

Kuwano Building 2F, 6-23-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Representative Directors

Tomonori Tazaki, Ichirota Nakata

Accreditation

Tokyo University of Education Venture

URL

https://d-melt.com/

Contact

contact@d-melt.com

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