Regional Issues as a "Starting Point for Learning"

Abstract

Tohoku Gakuin University (President: Haruki Onishi) and NTT East Corporation Miyagi Business Department (Executive Officer, Miyagi Business Department Manager: Kotaro Hirai, hereinafter "NTT East") will work to build a new educational model centered on a challenge-first, flipped learning approach, with the aim of advancing education in the "Department of Digital Design, Faculty of Future Exploration Science" to be established at the university in fiscal year 2027. By utilizing electronic textbooks and a visualization/simulation environment through programming, we will support students' proactive learning and create a platform for industry-academia collaboration where students tackle real regional issues in collaboration with companies. In the Tohoku region, where depopulation and industrial structure changes are progressing, we will develop a learning environment based on digital technology and promote the training of human resources responsible for improving intellectual productivity. Through this collaboration, we aim to foster human resources who can create value in the real world and contribute to regional development.

1. Background and Objectives of This Initiative

Amidst ongoing depopulation and changes in industrial structure, the shortage of human resources to support the resolution of regional issues and sustainable development is becoming particularly severe in the Tohoku region. These societal changes necessitate a shift from conventional education focused on knowledge acquisition to the training of human resources who can utilize knowledge to create value.

Based on these social demands, this initiative aims to foster human resources who can create new value for the region and society through the advancement of education and the construction of a new educational model in the "Department of Digital Design, Faculty of Future Exploration Science" scheduled to be established by Tohoku Gakuin University in fiscal year 2027.

2. Collaboration and Implementation Matters

Promotion of electronic textbooks in specialized subjects (advancing the learning environment through digitalization of teaching materials)

Realization of proactive and interactive learning using electronic textbooks (promoting inquiry-based learning)

Consideration and construction of an educational platform utilizing learning data (realization of learning analytics)

Joint improvement and optimization of systems for teaching material operation and learning log analysis

Creation of an industry-academia collaboration environment with student participation (providing practical educational opportunities to learn alongside working professionals by having students participate in the process of considering system introduction and improvement)

Creation of opportunities for students to participate in social and regional issue-solving projects in collaboration with companies (fostering practical skills and problem-solving abilities)

3. Social Significance of This Collaboration

This collaboration will rebuild the relationship between learning and society by connecting education utilizing digital technology with the real world, thereby creating new educational value. Through the use of electronic textbooks and learning data, and practical education through industry-academia collaboration, we will create an environment that fosters students' ability to proactively face challenges and create value through trial and error. This will form a mechanism where human resource development and regional issue resolution circulate, contributing to sustainable value creation and development in the Tohoku region.

4. Roles of Each Party

Tohoku Gakuin University: Promotion of education and human resource development

NTT East: Provision of technological infrastructure and social touchpoints

5. Date of Agreement

July 1, 2026 (Wed)