The National University Consortium Research Exchange Forum is held as a place to exchange information on the initiatives and research results of each university consortium, with the aim of contributing to the development of higher education, and this year marks its 22nd anniversary.

The forum, held on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, 2025, was held for the first time in Hyogo Prefecture with the main theme of “Toward the development of new human resources who will open up a radically changing future society: Inter-university collaboration and industry-government-academia collaboration that thinks in an unchanging way.”
A total of 373 participants gathered at the Kobe Gakuin University Port Island 1 Campus from all over the country, including university faculty and staff, university consortium officials, and government and corporate officials.

▼ Venue: Kobe Gakuin University Port Island Campus 1

[Saturday, August 30]

▼Opening Remarks University Consortium Hyogo Kobe Chairman Yasutoshi Mori (President, Kwansei Gakuin University)	▼Student Stage (Myanmar Dance)
▼Student Stage (Erhu performance)	▼Student Stage (Quran chanting)

At the symposium, presentations were made by the speakers on the theme of “Inter-University Collaboration and Regional Co-Creation ~The Possibility of Consortia in the Period of Social Change~”, followed by lively discussions.

≪ Symposium≫
Toshiya Yoshimi (Professor, Faculty of Tourism and Community Planning, Kokugakuin University, Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo)
Koji Okada (President CEO, Japan Technology Solution Co., Ltd.)
Masumi Shimafuji (Representative Director, X-R John Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Masaaki Honjo (General Manager, Office Department, Student Activity Support Organization, Kwansei Gakuin University)

≪ moderator≫
Atsushi Hamana (Director, University Consortium Hyogo Kobe, President, Kansai International University)

▼ Symposium

In addition, active exchanges between participants were seen at the poster session exhibited by 11 university consortiums, panel exhibitions at 23 booths at 15 university consortium Hyogo Kobe member schools, and information exchange meetings.

▼ Poster session and panel exhibition

▼ Information exchange meeting

[August 31 (Sun)]

On the second day of the forum, subcommittees were held for each of the three themes: “International Students,” “Recurrent Education,” and “Support for Disaster-stricken Areas by Young People.” In each subcommittee, in addition to reporting on practical cases related to the theme, participants and reporters actively exchanged opinions and shared information.

1st Subcommittee> University Consortium Kyoto
“Promoting the Attraction of International Students in All Industries, Academia, and Government in Kyoto -Toward the Retention of International Students-“

2nd Subcommittee> Higher Education Consortium Miyazaki
“The Future of Recurrent Education through Co-creation
-How to build a place where we can learn together and create a community together-“

3rd Subcommittee> University Consortium Hyogo Kobe
[TKK3 University Collaboration Project 15th Year Project] 30 Years Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
“Thinking as a young person: the power of supporting disaster-stricken areas and passing on the story”

▼ 1st Session (University Consortium Kyoto)	▼ Session 2 (Higher Education Consortium Miyazaki)
▼ Session 3 (University Consortium Hyogo Kobe)

Through the symposium and case reports and exchange of opinions at the subcommittees at this forum, it was a place to rethink the role that university consortiums should play.

Thank you very much for your participation.

The next 23rd Forum will be held in Hiroshima City in collaboration with Education Network China.

The event will be held for two days, September 10 (Thursday) and 11 (Friday), 2026, and the venue is scheduled to be Hiroshima Institute of Technology Itsukaichi Campus.

Details will be announced on the website of the University Consortium Kyoto as soon as they are decided.

We look forward to your participation.

◆Click here for more information about the National Association of University Consortiums.