Gordonstoun, Alma Mater of UK's King Charles, Lands in Japan. 'Impact Challenge Summer 2026' to Implement SDGs in Society Announced Ahead of 2027 Opening
Gordonstoun Japan, the Japanese campus of the prestigious British public school Gordonstoun, alma mater of King Charles III, will open in Wakayama in summer 2027. Ahead of this, the 'Impact Challenge Summer 2026,' a next-generation leadership program focused on real-world SDGs implementation, will be held in August, targeting 10-14 year olds.
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Gordonstoun Japan (Headquarters: Osaka City, Representative: Masakuni Negishi), the Japanese campus of Gordonstoun, the prestigious British public school that has produced leaders from around the world, including His Majesty King Charles III, will hold the next-generation leadership development program "Impact Challenge Summer 2026" in August 2026, ahead of the campus opening in Wakayama Prefecture in summer 2027.
This program is Japan's first "SDGs implementation-type" summer school, centering its education on "action in the real world" towards achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
**From acquiring knowledge to "creating value for society"**
A paradigm shift in education is currently occurring globally. There is a demand for individuals who can think for themselves, act, and create concrete value in response to complex social issues, rather than merely accumulating knowledge.
This program offered by Gordonstoun Japan captures this trend, integrating "SDGs x Social Implementation x Leadership." Going a step beyond traditional "experiential" summer schools, it develops an extremely practical educational model with the goal of taking actual action on real-world social issues.
**Impact Challenge Summer 2026 Program Outline**
Name: Impact Challenge Summer 2026
Dates:
* Term 1: August 2 (Sunday) - August 7 (Friday), 2026
* Term 2: August 15 (Saturday) - August 20 (Thursday), 2026
Location: Within Wakayama Prefecture
Target: 10-14 years old
1. **Implementation of Global Issues (Nepal Project)**
Design a sustainable social entrepreneurship model for impoverished families in the Himalayan region. Not merely providing "aid," but challenging students in their teens to take the lead in creating systems for local people to become "self-reliant."
2. **On-site Resolution of Domestic Environmental Issues (Wakayama Tomogashima Project)**
Conduct fieldwork on Tomogashima, Wakayama Prefecture, the frontline of marine plastic issues. Consistently carry out everything from data collection and analysis to the construction of executable environmental conservation models.
3. **Cultivating Cross-cultural Collaboration and Leadership**
Through communal living with participants from diverse backgrounds, develop "dialogue skills" essential in a global society and "decision-making skills" to make judgments on questions without clear answers.
4. **Implementation Phase in Nepal**
Selected teams will travel to Nepal. This provides the ultimate "success experience," where they can directly feel the moment their own ideas move society.
**Comment from the First Principal: Natasha Dangerfield**
"We are not just preparing students for future contributions to society. We want to provide them with the experience of 'creating value for society from this very moment.' The conviction that their actions can change the world is the greatest asset for future leaders. This program will be a new turning point in Japanese education."
**About Gordonstoun School**
Founded in Scotland in 1934, Gordonstoun is a leading prestigious school in the UK. With the motto "Plus est en vous (There is more in you)," it is globally renowned as a pioneer of "character education" based on academics, outdoor activities, and service. It is the alma mater of His Majesty King Charles III and the late HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and His Majesty currently serves as the Patron of the Gordonstoun Association, an alumni organization of the school. Its innovative educational model, advocated by Kurt Hahn, became the foundation for "Round Square," to which international schools worldwide are affiliated. The Japanese campus, opening in 2027, will be the first campus in Asia where this traditional educational philosophy can be directly experienced.
HM King Charles III presenting Gordonstoun students with Coronation Medal
**Contact for this matter:**
Gordonstoun Japan
Public Relations Office
Email: marketing@gordonstoun.jp
Japan Official Site: https://www.gordonstoun.jp
UK Official Site: https://www.gordonstoun.org.uk/
This program is Japan's first "SDGs implementation-type" summer school, centering its education on "action in the real world" towards achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
**From acquiring knowledge to "creating value for society"**
A paradigm shift in education is currently occurring globally. There is a demand for individuals who can think for themselves, act, and create concrete value in response to complex social issues, rather than merely accumulating knowledge.
This program offered by Gordonstoun Japan captures this trend, integrating "SDGs x Social Implementation x Leadership." Going a step beyond traditional "experiential" summer schools, it develops an extremely practical educational model with the goal of taking actual action on real-world social issues.
**Impact Challenge Summer 2026 Program Outline**
Name: Impact Challenge Summer 2026
Dates:
* Term 1: August 2 (Sunday) - August 7 (Friday), 2026
* Term 2: August 15 (Saturday) - August 20 (Thursday), 2026
Location: Within Wakayama Prefecture
Target: 10-14 years old
1. **Implementation of Global Issues (Nepal Project)**
Design a sustainable social entrepreneurship model for impoverished families in the Himalayan region. Not merely providing "aid," but challenging students in their teens to take the lead in creating systems for local people to become "self-reliant."
2. **On-site Resolution of Domestic Environmental Issues (Wakayama Tomogashima Project)**
Conduct fieldwork on Tomogashima, Wakayama Prefecture, the frontline of marine plastic issues. Consistently carry out everything from data collection and analysis to the construction of executable environmental conservation models.
3. **Cultivating Cross-cultural Collaboration and Leadership**
Through communal living with participants from diverse backgrounds, develop "dialogue skills" essential in a global society and "decision-making skills" to make judgments on questions without clear answers.
4. **Implementation Phase in Nepal**
Selected teams will travel to Nepal. This provides the ultimate "success experience," where they can directly feel the moment their own ideas move society.
**Comment from the First Principal: Natasha Dangerfield**
"We are not just preparing students for future contributions to society. We want to provide them with the experience of 'creating value for society from this very moment.' The conviction that their actions can change the world is the greatest asset for future leaders. This program will be a new turning point in Japanese education."
**About Gordonstoun School**
Founded in Scotland in 1934, Gordonstoun is a leading prestigious school in the UK. With the motto "Plus est en vous (There is more in you)," it is globally renowned as a pioneer of "character education" based on academics, outdoor activities, and service. It is the alma mater of His Majesty King Charles III and the late HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and His Majesty currently serves as the Patron of the Gordonstoun Association, an alumni organization of the school. Its innovative educational model, advocated by Kurt Hahn, became the foundation for "Round Square," to which international schools worldwide are affiliated. The Japanese campus, opening in 2027, will be the first campus in Asia where this traditional educational philosophy can be directly experienced.
HM King Charles III presenting Gordonstoun students with Coronation Medal
**Contact for this matter:**
Gordonstoun Japan
Public Relations Office
Email: marketing@gordonstoun.jp
Japan Official Site: https://www.gordonstoun.jp
UK Official Site: https://www.gordonstoun.org.uk/