Two American University Students Co-Create Education with Correspondence High School Students

NIJIN Inc. (Koto Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tatsuro Hoshino), which operates the correspondence support school "NIJIN High School," has accepted two overseas interns currently enrolled in American universities. They will launch an international collaborative project based at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) to plan and operate educational projects together with high school students.

In this project, high school students who have experienced school refusal or learned primarily online will collaborate with overseas university students on planning, public relations, event management, and more. Through the experience of collaborating across nationalities and cultures, they will practice career education that connects their "likes" and "aspirations" to society.

Background | Creating Opportunities for Correspondence High School Students to Encounter the "World"

According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the number of elementary and junior high school students experiencing school refusal exceeded 350,000, a record high.

While the number of children learning at correspondence high schools or online is increasing, opportunities to learn while collaborating with peers overseas and adults outside of school, and to encounter diverse values, are still limited.

NIJIN High School has been developing learning experiences utilizing the metaverse with the concept of "Turning isolation into youth."

This project will create a new learning environment where high school students can connect with the world and take on challenges through collaboration with overseas university student interns, using Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), a startup support hub in Tokyo, as the venue.

Educational Projects "Co-Created" with Overseas Interns

In the project, high school students and overseas interns will form teams and work on tasks such as planning and operating educational projects, public relations activities including social media and videos, planning and operating events, interacting with startups and companies, and supporting the project activities of high school students.

This is a "co-creation type" internship where university students do not unilaterally teach high school students, but rather create a project together, leveraging their respective expertise and experiences.

Introduction of Overseas Interns

Momo Z. Peters (USA)

Momo majors in Psychology with a double major in East Asian Studies and Dance at Bucknell University. In addition to involvement in AI evaluation, photo/video production, and brand promotion using social media, Momo is also an athlete competing at the Division I level. Through study abroad experience in Japan, Momo has learned about intercultural communication.

Xavier Collier (USA)

Xavier majors in Organizational Leadership at Arizona State University. With experience studying abroad at Waseda University and interning in South Korea, Xavier possesses broad practical experience in event management, marketing, and HR/sales support. Xavier has also been involved in event planning and team management as a student ambassador.

Both High School Students and Overseas University Students are "Learners"

In this project, overseas interns are not in a position to support the high school students.

They will create educational projects as "partners" who bring together their respective knowledge and experiences, think together, and challenge together.

Through collaboration with overseas university students, high school students will cultivate the ability to encounter diverse values, express their own ideas, and collaborate with society. For overseas interns, it will also be a valuable opportunity to learn about Japanese education and the field of support for school refusal.

Future Outlook

NIJIN High School will continue to expand learning opportunities where diverse domestic and international individuals can collaborate with high school students, by promoting co-creation with companies, local governments, universities, and startups.

We aim to realize career education where each individual's "likes" and "strengths" connect to society through education that bridges online and real, Japan and the world.

School Overview

School Name: NIJIN High School

Format: Correspondence high school support school with a focus on online learning

Target Audience: Junior high school graduates and those who have already graduated nationwide

Official Website: https://highschool.nijin.co.jp/

NIJIN Inc.

"JAPAN EDUCATION COMPANY" that solves educational issues from the system level, with the philosophy of "Illuminating the nation through education." Founder Tatsuro Hoshino, a former elementary school teacher, established the company in April 2022, sensing a national crisis due to too many children unable to express themselves in current school settings, aiming to create a nation where everyone can have "hope" in education. The company offers 13 systems (businesses) that solve various educational problems, including school refusal, teacher shortages, teacher working conditions, and the nature of schools.

Company Name: NIJIN Inc.

Location: 2-5-5 Tokiwa, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Established: April 1, 2022

Representative: Tatsuro Hoshino

Business Activities: Educational businesses that solve educational issues from the system level (teacher training, support for school refusal, entrepreneurship support, educational events, after-school programs)

URL: https://www.nijin.co.jp/