Inter-University Exchange Project

From March 2024st to 3th, 1, the first Kobe Program was held in Kobe City (Hyogo Prefecture) and surrounding areas. This program was organized as part of our second overseas collaborative project titled "Building a Safe and Secure Social Infrastructure and Developing Hospitality Businesses in the Next-Generation DX Environment”, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which we have been selected for two consecutive years.

In the first Kobe Program, which marked the beginning of this year's overseas collaborative projects involving 19 students from four countries (the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Japan.) The program focused on "Hospitality Management and Japanese Culture" and "Safety Management and Japanese Culture." Students engaged in special lectures by experts, group work, and field studies conducted at locations such as Sonezaki Police Station in Osaka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefectural Police, Awaji Island, Arima Onsen, and Sakoshi in Ako City. While experiencing the charm of Japanese food and culture, they learned about administrative initiatives, industry-led activities, and grassroots movements, and reflected on current challenges in hospitality, disaster and crime prevention fields.

Participating students actively exchanged opinions with faculty from our university and partner universities, government agencies, companies, and residents and conducted comparative studies with their home countries’ situations and cultural effects. They also learned that a safe and secure social infrastructure is an essential element for "tourism city development" and "Omotenashi." In this program, we aim to foster individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset, the ability to adapt to different cultures, and flexible thinking skills. We look to develop skills to respond to rapid changes in tourism, hospitality and disaster and crime prevention fields, where there is a shortage of talent and a need for more sophisticated and digitalized operations in many countries, including Japan.

Project Aim

We will present an international collaborative education programme using COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), with the core issues of our program being the construction of safe and secure social infrastructures through tourism hospitality, disaster and crime prevention. Participating students will also learn fundamental themes such as data science suited to the AI-era, which they will utilize in the SSHM (Safety and Security & Hospitality Management) international collaboration program. Through collaboration between industry, government, and academia, including university networks, we will develop international programs targeting a wide range of students.

Partner Universities

Kansai University of International Studies, College of the Canyons (USA), College of the Desert (USA), University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College (USA), California State University Fullerton (USA), Vancouver Island University (Canada), Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia)

We received support and cooperation from the following institutions, companies, and organizations for this program. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all of them and kindly ask for their continued understanding and support.

Participating Companies and Cooperating Organizations

Hyogo Prefectural Government, Hyogo Prefectural Police, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Sonezaki Police Station, Osaka Prefecture, Goshobo Co., Ltd., Pasona Group, UTSUBO Kaoru-shoku, SAKE-AKI’S STORE, Ako City, NPO BRIGHT HONUA JAPAN, Volunteers from Sakoshi, Ako City

* As of March 2024