Business overview
In order to contribute to the development of higher education, we exchange information on the initiatives and research results of each university consortium.
Event Overview
theme
Towards the development of new talent to pioneer a rapidly changing society of the future
: Inter-university collaboration and industry-government-academia collaboration based on timeless trends
Purpose of the conference
Higher education is currently at a major turning point. As outlined in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s (MEXT) Central Council for Education’s report, “On the Future of Higher Education in the Aging Society, with an Eye to the Future Society,” the environment surrounding universities is undergoing significant change, driven by factors such as population decline, advances in AI, and the spread of problem-solving learning in high schools.
In response to these societal changes, universities have an important mission: to support diverse and flexible learning through the promotion of interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary education and recurrent education, and to cultivate highly specialized human resources who will lead the future.
Furthermore, to develop as core components of their local communities, it is essential for universities to collaborate not only with universities but also with diverse stakeholders, including local governments and industry, and to work together as a
unified industry-academia-government partnership. In this context, higher education institutions are being called upon to maintain their core values while flexibly adapting to the changing times. Taking into account the Central Council for Education’s report, “A Vision for Improving Japan’s ‘Total Knowledge’ – Reconstructing the Higher Education System,” it is important to reexamine the essence of inter-university collaboration. For example, the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe’s ongoing internship initiative for international students demonstrates both unchanging ideals and practical applications that respond to social changes.
This forum will provide an opportunity to look back at the activities of inter-university collaborative organizations, reexamine their origins, learn from the latest practical examples, and think together about the future of higher education.
schedule
August 30, 2025 (Sat) 13:00-17:45 (*Information exchange meeting 18:00-19:30), August 31 (Sun) 10:00-12:00
venue
Kobe Gakuin University Port Island 1st Campus (1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe)
*Approximately a 6-minute walk west from Minatojima (Campus Front) Station on the Kobe New Transit Port Liner.
Participation fee
Participation fee: (General) 5,000 yen / (Students) Free
Information exchange session: (General) 4,000 yen / (Students) 2,000 yen
*From 2025, the proceedings (booklets) will no longer be sold.
For details, please see “About Proceedings and Proceedings” below.
Co-hosted by
National University Consortium Council, Hyogo Kobe University Consortium
cooperation
Kobe Gakuin University (venue school)
Sponsor
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, The Association of National Universities, The Association of Public Universities, The Association of Private Universities in Japan,
The Association of Private Universities in Japan, National Association of Public Junior Colleges, The Association of Private Junior Colleges in Japan, National Governors’ Association, The Asahi Shimbun
Company, The Mainichi Shimbun, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nikkei Inc. Osaka Headquarters, Kyodo News,
Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, The Kobe Shimbun, Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hyogo Employers’ Association
Content
Day 1: Saturday, August 30th
Symposium, poster session, information exchange session, etc.
Day 2: Sunday, August 31st
Subcommittee meetings (3 subcommittees in total)
◆For more details, please see the special website or leaflet.
Special website (Click on the image below to go to the special website)
22nd National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum Leaflet
schedule
<Day 1: Saturday, August 30th, Lecture Room D101>
| Opening and greetings ⏰13:00-13:15 |
|
Yasutoshi Mori, Chairman of the Consortium of Universities Hyogo Kobe (President of Kwansei Gakuin University), Motohiko Saito, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture (Counselor of the Consortium of Universities Hyogo Kobe) , Katsuhiro Obara, Representative Director of the National Council of Universities Consortiums (Chairman of the Consortium of Universities Kyoto, President of Doshisha University) |
| Student Stage A ⏰13:15-13:25 |
|
Myanmar Dance “Dajan Dance” [University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences] Win Pa Pa Tun San, Saw Yu Nwe, Win Shwe Yee Kyaw, Moe Hti Ko Ko, Yuin Yuin Phyo, Nan Eindra Pu Wei, Aung Thu Hlaing Oo, E E Soe San, and Lin Lat Lak Khine |
| Symposium 1 Topic Presentation ⏰13:30-15:10 |
|
“Inter-University Collaboration and Regional Co-creation: The Potential of Consortia in a Time of Social Change”
Symposist Moderator: <Summary> |
| Break ⏰15:10-16:30 |
| Student Stage B ⏰16:30-16:40 |
|
Erhu performance “Jasmine and Merry Christmas on the Lawrence Field” by Chen Yuyang of Ashiya University Quranic recitation “Kuraan” by Saddam of Ashiya University |
| Symposium 2 Discussion ⏰16:45-17:30 |
| Closing remarks ⏰17:30-17:45 |
| Yuji Kawano, Representative Director of the National University Consortium Council (President and CEO of Elisabeth University of Music) |
<Day 1: August 30th (Sat) Communication Mall>
| Poster Session ⏰12:00-19:00 |
|
The poster session will introduce cutting-edge examples and activities of consortium organizations across the country. Please use this as an opportunity to learn about practical initiatives and gather various information. Core time (15:10-16:30) |
On the day, there will be an exhibition corner by member schools of the co-sponsoring organization, the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe, with the theme “Inter-university collaboration and industry
-government-academia collaboration from Hyogo.” Please come and see the initiatives for inter-university collaboration and industry-government-academia collaboration, as well as university activities that connect the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
<Day 1: August 30th (Sat) Food Court Seagull>
| Information exchange session ⏰18:00-19:30 |
|
We will be holding a buffet-style information exchange event where you can casually interact with university and consortium representatives from all over the country. This is a valuable opportunity to enjoy local cuisine, view the poster session exhibits, and exchange opinions on initiatives and issues. Please join us for a chance to experience the charm of Hyogo with all your senses and deepen your connections. [Opening] Ms. Itsuko Nakai, Vice Chairperson of the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe (President of Konan University) [Toast] Mr. Masato Fujisawa, Vice Chairperson of the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe (President of Kobe University) |
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<Day 2: Sunday, August 31st>
| venue | Subcommittee ⏰10:00-12:00 |
D220 , 2nd floor, Building D |
Session 1 (University Consortium Kyoto, a public interest incorporated foundation) “Promoting Kyoto’s efforts to attract international students through industry-academia-government collaboration – Toward the retention of international students” The Kyoto University Consortium serves as the secretariat for the “International Student Study Kyoto Network,” which includes universities, Japanese language schools, vocational schools, companies, economic organizations, and government agencies, and has been working to attract international students to the Kyoto region and develop a system for accepting them. As addressing a declining population has become a social issue, efforts to help highly skilled human resources settle in the region, such as providing employment support for international students who graduate from universities, are becoming increasingly important. This subcommittee will share examples of efforts by government agencies, universities, and companies, and discuss future prospects for attracting and supporting international students with a view to helping them settle in the local community. Speakers: |
D217, 2nd floor, Building D |
Session 2 (Higher Education Consortium Miyazaki) “The future of recurrent education envisioned through co-creation – How to create a place where we can learn together and build the community together” This subcommittee will consider how each university and each consortium should approach recurrent education, particularly recurrent education that collaborates and co-creates with local communities and companies. To do this, we will first provide an overview of what recurrent education is, how it is carried out, and what the challenges are. Next, we will hear reports on practical examples of recurrent education programs that involve collaboration between universities and local communities. Furthermore, we will hear reports from the corporate perspective on the significance of collaborating with universities to provide recurrent education, thereby broadening understanding. We will then exchange opinions with the presenters and participants about future recurrent education that can only be undertaken by a university consortium. Speakers: Coordinator |
| Building D, 2nd floor, D213 |
Session 3 (Hyogo Kobe University Consortium) [15th Anniversary Project of the TKK3 University Collaboration Project] 30 Years Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake: “Thinking with Young People about Supporting Disaster Areas and the Power of Passing On Stories” January 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. With over half of the generation still unaware of the disaster, it is becoming increasingly important to pass on the experiences of that time. In this session, we will share the framework of the “TKK3 University Collaboration Project,” which has been working on collaboration between universities across a wide area, and exchange opinions on young people’s efforts to support the disaster-stricken areas and pass on their experiences. We aim to foster the ability to prepare for the next large-scale disaster by sharing the experiences of those affected and ingenuity in passing on those experiences. Presenters: Coordinator |
Important points to note when participating
・Please use public transportation when visiting the venue.
・At lecture and breakout session venues, please be considerate and turn off your mobile phones, smartphones, etc. or put them on silent mode to keep them quiet.
・We ask for your cooperation in taking your trash home with you.
・There are no cafeterias or convenience stores on campus. (There are not many restaurants around Minatojima Station, the nearest station to the venue.)
About proceedings and reports
Starting in 2025, proceedings and reports will be provided as PDF data rather than as booklets. PDFs of proceedings will be sent to the email addresses of forum registrants approximately three days before the forum.
The reports will also not be sold, but will be sent free of charge via email to all forum registrants at a later date. The PDF data provided will consist of
presentation materials and profile sheets for the member organizations of the Japan University Consortium .
About application
If you would like to participate in the 22nd National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum, please apply here.
Application period: 10:00 on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 to 24:00 on Thursday, July 31, 2025
*Payment deadline is 24:00 on Friday, August 8
*The application period has been extended.
◆Step 1 Apply online
Please register your email address using the “Apply” button above. Access the “Participation Application Form” URL sent to the registered email address, follow the on-screen instructions, and you will receive an “Application Completion Email.”
◆Step 2 : Payment
After completing the application process in Step 1, you will receive an email with payment instructions. Please pay the participation fee and other charges by the due date by credit card or at the nearest convenience store.
*Please note that the fee you pay will be used as preparation costs and will not be refunded for any reason.
*Payments cannot be made at financial institutions such as banks or Japan Post Bank.
*Those who have not completed the application procedure and payment in Step 1 will not be able to participate.
Payment deadline: August 8th (Friday) 24:00
◆Step 3: Receive your “Participation Certificate”
Once your application is complete (after payment has been made), a “Participation Certificate” will be sent to the email address you registered.
*If you do not receive an email by Friday, August 15th, please contact the Council Secretariat.
◆Step 4 Forum Day
On the day of the forum, please present your “Participation Certificate” (email or printout) at the reception desk.
*If you would like a substitute to participate, please bring the participation certificate (email) and inform the reception on the day.
◆Notes
*If cookies are not enabled in your browser, you may not be able to apply.
*If you do not receive the notification email for the “Participation Application Form,” it may be because you entered your email address incorrectly. We apologize for the inconvenience, but please re-enter and resubmit your email address using the “Email Address Verification Form.”
*Please note that changes cannot be made after the application procedure has been completed.
*Symposium speakers, coordinators, and subcommittee presenters do not need to apply.
Implementation Report
The National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum is held as a forum for exchanging information on the initiatives and research results of each university consortium, with the aim of contributing to the development of higher education. This year marks the 22nd time the forum has been held.
The forum, held on Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st, 2025, had the main theme of “Towards developing new talent to pioneer a rapidly changing future society – Inter-university collaboration and industry-government-academia collaboration based on timeless trends,” and was held for the first time in Hyogo Prefecture.
A total of 373 participants, including university faculty and staff, university consortium members, and government and business representatives from all over Japan, gathered at the venue, Kobe Gakuin University’s Port Island Campus 1.
| ▼ Venue: Kobe Gakuin University Port Island Campus 1 | |
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[Saturday, August 30th]
| ▼ Opening remarks Yasutoshi Mori, Chairman of the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe (President of Kwansei Gakuin University) |
▼ Student Stage (Myanmar Dance) |
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| ▼ Student Stage (Erhu Performance) |
▼ Student Stage (Quran chanting) |
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At the symposium, speakers gave presentations on the theme of “Inter-university collaboration and regional co-creation: The potential of consortia in times of social change,” followed by lively discussion.
Symposium speakers:
Toshiya Yoshimi (Professor, Faculty of Tourism and Urban Planning, Kokugakuin University; Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo)
; Koji Okada (President and CEO, Japan Technology Solutions Co., Ltd.)
; Masumi Shimafuji (President and CEO, Ex-R-John Co., Ltd.);
Masaaki Honjo (Director, Student Activities Support Organization, Kwansei Gakuin University)
Moderator:
Atsushi Hamana (Director of the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe, President of Kansai University of International Studies)
| ▼ Symposium | |
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In addition, active interaction between participants was observed at the poster session where 11 university consortiums exhibited, panel displays by 23 booths from 15 member schools of the University Consortium Hyogo Kobe, and information exchange session.
| ▼ Poster session and panel exhibition | |
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| ▼ Information exchange session | |
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[Sunday, August 31st]
On the second day of the forum, breakout sessions were held on three themes: “International Students,” “Recurrent Education,” and “Youth Support for Disaster-stricken Areas.” In each session, practical case studies related to the theme were reported, and there was lively exchange of opinions and information sharing between participants and presenters.
<1st Subcommittee> University Consortium Kyoto, a public interest incorporated foundation
“Promoting the attraction of international students to Kyoto through industry-academia-government collaboration – Towards the retention of international students”
<Second Session> Miyazaki Higher Education Consortium (General Incorporated Association)
“The Future of Recurrent Education Envisioned through Co-creation
-How to Build a Place for Learning Together and Creating a Community Together-“
<3rd Subcommittee> University Consortium Hyogo Kobe
[15th Anniversary Project of the TKK3 University Collaboration Project] 30 Years Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake:
“Thinking with Young People about Supporting Disaster-Affected Areas and the Power of Passing On Stories”
| ▼ 1st Subcommittee (University Consortium Kyoto) |
▼ 2nd Subcommittee (Higher Education Consortium Miyazaki) |
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| ▼ 3rd Subcommittee (Hyogo Kobe University Consortium) |
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Through case reports and exchanges of opinions at the symposium and subcommittees held at this forum, we were able to reconsider the role that university consortia should play.
We would like to thank everyone for participating.
The next 23rd forum will be held in Hiroshima City, co-hosted with the Chugoku Education Network.
The event will take place over two days, on Thursday, September 10th and Friday, September 11th, 2026, at the Itsukaichi Campus of Hiroshima Institute of Technology and other locations.
Details will be posted on the University Consortium Kyoto website as soon as they are decided.
We look forward to your participation.
Contact Information
National University Consortium Council Secretariat (University Consortium Kyoto)
TEL: 075-353-9100 FAX: 075-353-9101
Campus Plaza Kyoto, Nishinotoin-dori Shiokoji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
*Reception hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00-17:00 (excluding New Year’s holidays)
