The Power to Believe in Oneself Becomes a Lifelong Treasure (Gift) ~Virtual 'Career Education' Space 'TrusTopia' for 1st and 2nd Year University Students to Interact as Avatars is Launched~

Resorttrust, Inc. (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director, President and Executive Officer: Yuki Fushimi) will officially launch 'TrusTopia,' an immersive career building platform specifically designed for first and second-year university students in their early career stages, on April 1, 2026. Breaking away from the traditional relationship where "companies evaluate students," TrusTopia offers a completely new career education and self-discovery experience in a virtual space, based on the concept of "a career utopia connected by trust," with mutual "trust" as its starting point. Special Website 'TrusTopia' URL: https://recruit.resorttrust.co.jp/trustopialp ■ Overview of 'TrusTopia' Service Target Audience: First and second-year university students nationwide (all faculties and departments welcome / free to use) Service Format: A fully responsive virtual space accessible from PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Students navigate the space freely as avatars. Main Functions/Experiences: Workshop-style self-analysis sessions through avatars. Virtual round-table discussions and work experience simulations with on-site employees from various professions (sales, hotel staff, medical, culinary, etc.). Learning about sustainability through the businesses of each group company, with plans for participation in practical projects in the future. ■ Background and Reason for Development: Career Education (Human Capital Investment) and Provision of Social Value for Future Generations Currently, Japan's working population is in an irreversible decline phase, projected to fall to 52 million by 2050*. The importance for students, who will lead the future society, to consider their careers early and broaden their options has never been higher. (*Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Information and Communications White Paper 2022," Trends in the working-age population) However, conventional, rigid job hunting often deprives students of the opportunity to express their "individuality." Our group believes that "to nurture professionals who bring happiness to others, an environment where individuals can first believe in themselves" is necessary. Therefore, we launched this project to give back to society through "career education (human capital investment)" for future generations. We are building an environment where students can confront their own values and learn on an equal footing with adult partners, even before job hunting fully begins, by accessing a virtual space anytime, regardless of the season. ■ Program Features Incorporating Expert Knowledge and Online Education Know-how In designing this platform, we received advice from Professor Asako Terazawa of Chubu University's Faculty of Business Administration and Information Science, who is also an outside director of our company. Her advice emphasized "the importance of relationship building to support students' confusion and anxiety that arise as their connection with companies deepens" and "a thorough student perspective." We prioritized creating an environment where students can learn while maintaining psychological safety. Furthermore, for the system development of the online learning experience, we are collaborating with Kids Weekend Inc., an online education platform that provides diverse learning opportunities for children from an SDG perspective. The company's accumulated online education know-how has been integrated into this system. ■ Three Distinct Experience Areas of the Immersive Career Building Platform 'TrusTopia' This platform is composed of three areas that allow students to gradually broaden their perspectives from "self" to "work" and "society." 1. Forest of Self-Discovery (Self-Research Area) A quiet place surrounded by trees and soft light, where students can confront their true feelings without worrying about others' eyes. Through workshop-style self-analysis and strength-finding sessions, they discover "Self-Trust (the seed of a career)" – the power to believe in themselves. 2. Career Courtyard (Job Understanding Area) An open garden with a fountain at its center. Through casual round-table discussions and work experience simulations with diverse professionals in sales, hotel work, medical fields, culinary arts, and more, students learn about the realities and rewards of work through open dialogue. 3. Future Creation Platform (Society/Industry Understanding Area) A high-altitude terrace that connects individual learning to "social value." Students learn how our group's diverse businesses—membership services, hotel and restaurant services, golf services, medical services, senior life services—contribute to sustainability. Co-creation projects where students and companies build the future together are also planned. ■ Prior to Full Operation, a "Pre-Experience Session" was Conducted for Chubu University Students as an Industry-Academia Collaboration Pilot Prior to the official launch on April 1st this year, a pilot operation was conducted in mid-March as an industry-academia collaboration through Professor Terazawa's seminar at Chubu University (our outside director mentioned above), with the cooperation of 8 students from the university. On that day, students navigated the 'Forest of Self-Discovery' and 'Career Courtyard' as avatars, experiencing "virtual round-table discussions" with employees and "self-analysis workshops." "It was very refreshing to have the opportunity to explore myself using a virtual space, which is rare. I was able to discover emotions I didn't realize I had, and I spent a very valuable time." "I had never thought about what I value while living my daily life, but after this seminar, I was able to reflect on and understand what is important to me." "I was surprised that my strengths aligned with the profession I wanted to pursue. By actually writing down my ideas, which were previously just thoughts, I discovered many new things, making it a fruitful time." Through this pilot operation, we gained solid confidence that "avatar space" and "dialogue without selection" significantly lower students' psychological barriers, naturally exposing them to "the reality of working" and "the fun of talking with adults," thereby creating opportunities for them to think positively about their future. ■ Towards Activating the Entire Hospitality Industry and Building "Long-Term Relationships" with Students and Society Involvement with 'TrusTopia' also provides an opportunity for our employees to re-recognize the company's purpose and the meaning of their daily work. By setting quantitative goals for "changes in student self-esteem" and "improvement in career autonomy/career ownership," and by interacting with students' genuine questions as "accompanying partners" rather than "teachers," employees can enhance their own job satisfaction and pride, contributing to improved organizational engagement across the group. Furthermore, for our group, this initiative aims to stimulate interest in the hospitality industry as a whole (hotels, medical, senior care, etc.), making our businesses that support diverse life stages feel more familiar. This will create touchpoints with potential customers who may use our services in the future and foster long-term relationships that contribute to the revitalization of the entire industry. When companies and students connect early on through "trust" rather than "evaluation" and engage in honest dialogue, it leads to nurturing the next generation of talent for society as a whole. Students find their own path, their enthusiasm revitalizes the hospitality industry, and enriches society. Through this platform, we will create a valuable future for "students, industry, and society" – a win-win-win. ■ Company Profile Company Name: Resorttrust, Inc. Location: 2-18-31 Higashisakura, Naka-ku, Nagoya City Representative: Yuki Fushimi, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer Established: April 1973 URL: https://www.resorttrust.co.jp/index.html Business Activities: Membership services, hotel and restaurant services, golf services, medical services, senior life services, and other businesses. End