Eikei University: 'Positive Waste Management' in Miyajima Tourist Area. Eikei University's PBL Tackles Real-World Challenges – 3rd Year Students (Spring/Summer Quarter 2026)
Eikei University offers 'Project Based Learning (PBL)' as a practical subject for 2nd and 3rd-year students, tackling real-world challenges proposed by companies and local governments. On April 24, 2026, themes for 3rd-year students were introduced, including waste management in Miyajima, recruitment strategies for bilingual instructors, and communicating the value of motor technology.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 01:44
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Eikei University (President Mitsuhiro Arinobu, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City) offers "Project Based Learning (PBL)" as a practical subject for second and third-year students. Project Based Learning is an experiential, compulsory subject where students work in groups to think about themes proposed by companies, local governments, NPOs, and international organizations that cooperate in practical education. Students engage in exercises that involve exploring the causes of problems provided by clients and proposing solutions, thereby developing problem-finding and solving skills, the ability to collaborate with others, and perseverance.
On Friday, April 24, 2026, the themes for the third-year students' exercises were introduced by the clients. Over approximately two months, each team will tackle real-world challenges presented by three clients.
First, Instructor Yasuyuki Matsuura, the faculty member in charge of the third-year PBL exercises, explained the overview of the four-month course.
PBL II involves four steps: "Proposing," "Fieldwork (Investigation)," "Co-Review (Co-creation)," and "Reporting." Subsequently, in the summer quarter, teams will be formed to proceed with "Co-Search (Co-exploration)," "Co-Creation," "Fieldwork (Investigation)," and "Reporting," completing a total of eight steps over four months.
After exploring the problems and causes of the themes, the identified essential issues will be presented at the final reporting session.
Friday, April 24: Client theme introduction, Q&A session
After the clients introduced and explained their respective themes, there was a Q&A session.
Client: Hatsukaichi City, Miyajima Planning and Coordination Division
Theme: 'Positive Waste Management' in Miyajima – Promoting initiatives to 'not bring in, not increase, not scatter' waste.
Client: Hugcome Inc.
Theme: GLOBAL CROWN's instructor recruitment strategy, enabling bilingual individuals worldwide to leverage their English skills for 'location-independent work' and 'self-growth.'
Client: MCF Electric Drive Co., Ltd.
Theme: 'Translate the value of motor technology and transform it into a story that resonates with 'everyday people'' – Not how to communicate, but 'what kind of story' should be communicated?
Students engaged in questions and discussions with the clients regarding the age group and purpose of service users, actual case studies, target setting and reasons, and current efforts towards problem-solving, in preparation for future fieldwork.
Parts of past "Final Reporting Session" materials are available on a special website.
"Practical Skills to Change Society" – What is Eikei University's PBL?
https://www.eikei.ac.jp/pbl/?prt
Eikei University's website here
https://www.eikei.ac.jp
On Friday, April 24, 2026, the themes for the third-year students' exercises were introduced by the clients. Over approximately two months, each team will tackle real-world challenges presented by three clients.
First, Instructor Yasuyuki Matsuura, the faculty member in charge of the third-year PBL exercises, explained the overview of the four-month course.
PBL II involves four steps: "Proposing," "Fieldwork (Investigation)," "Co-Review (Co-creation)," and "Reporting." Subsequently, in the summer quarter, teams will be formed to proceed with "Co-Search (Co-exploration)," "Co-Creation," "Fieldwork (Investigation)," and "Reporting," completing a total of eight steps over four months.
After exploring the problems and causes of the themes, the identified essential issues will be presented at the final reporting session.
Friday, April 24: Client theme introduction, Q&A session
After the clients introduced and explained their respective themes, there was a Q&A session.
Client: Hatsukaichi City, Miyajima Planning and Coordination Division
Theme: 'Positive Waste Management' in Miyajima – Promoting initiatives to 'not bring in, not increase, not scatter' waste.
Client: Hugcome Inc.
Theme: GLOBAL CROWN's instructor recruitment strategy, enabling bilingual individuals worldwide to leverage their English skills for 'location-independent work' and 'self-growth.'
Client: MCF Electric Drive Co., Ltd.
Theme: 'Translate the value of motor technology and transform it into a story that resonates with 'everyday people'' – Not how to communicate, but 'what kind of story' should be communicated?
Students engaged in questions and discussions with the clients regarding the age group and purpose of service users, actual case studies, target setting and reasons, and current efforts towards problem-solving, in preparation for future fieldwork.
Parts of past "Final Reporting Session" materials are available on a special website.
"Practical Skills to Change Society" – What is Eikei University's PBL?
https://www.eikei.ac.jp/pbl/?prt
Eikei University's website here
https://www.eikei.ac.jp