University x High School x Society: Realizing a New Co-Creation Model for Learning that Connects Education with Social Problem Solving!

From Tuesday, March 3 to Thursday, March 5, students from seven universities and two high schools across Japan gathered at Toin University of Yokohama (Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) to participate in sessions deepening their understanding of a "sustainable energy society," with the involvement of Yokohama City, Aoba Ward, and 22 leading companies. This session served as the culmination of the five-part "2025 Inter-University Cross-Boundary Learning Program" that began last December. The most significant feature is the "vertical and horizontal co-creation," where ideas from students who have crossed regional and school boundaries are refined by professionals from companies and local governments. This realized an unprecedented scale of learning, where participants transcended regions and generations to envision the future of an energy society and challenge one another.

Participating Organizations 7 universities + 2 high schools + 22 companies and local governments from across the country gathered at Toin University of Yokohama! [Universities] Toin University of Yokohama (Organizer), Nippon Bunri University, Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University, Ishinomaki Senshu University, Shimane University, Hokkaido University of Science, Fukuoka Institute of Technology [High Schools] Miyazaki Prefectural Iino High School, Wakayama Prefectural Shingu High School [Companies] ALSOK, Weins Toyota Kanagawa, Suzuki Shokan Co., Ltd., Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd., Fukuda Sangyo Co., Ltd., Mynavi Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation Energy Limited, Refinverse Group Inc., Rental no Nikken, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC, and others

Overview of the "2025 Inter-University Cross-Boundary Learning Program" This is a cross-boundary, inquiry-based learning program where university and high school students from different regions and fields of study form mixed teams to tackle the open-ended question of a "sustainable energy society." Through five sessions, participants achieve high-impact, deep learning by alternating between "cross-boundary learning," where all teams participate using chat and online tools, and "inquiry learning," conducted by each team in their respective local areas. In the 2025 program, the fourth iteration, the scope was expanded to include companies and local governments, evolving into a more multi-layered learning space that creates "vertical connections" across generations and positions, in addition to the "horizontal connections" that transcend regions and specialties.

"Vertical Connections": Co-creation between Universities, High Schools, and Society University students exploring their expertise, high school students dreaming of diverse career paths, and professionals in the real world...