In the program subject "Social Entrepreneurship Challenge" of the Faculty of Commerce of Chuo University, students are currently working on the development of services and products that utilize the local resources of Okutama Mimura (Hinohara Village, Kosuge Village, Tabayama Village).
The Faculty of Commerce of Chuo University has set up five types of "program subjects" that enable practical learning that is directly linked to future career development. The "Social Entrepreneurship Program" is one of them, which appropriately identifies the problems that the local community needs to solve, devises effective business solutions, and challenges innovation to realize the problems. There is.
The "Social Entrepreneurship Challenge" is one of the PBL (Project Based Learning / Problem-Based Learning) subjects. I planned it.We will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by conserving the forest environment with the aim of growing the next young trees and circulating the work of the forest by utilizing the trees at the timing of the main cutting period.
In production, we conducted analysis of competing products and interview surveys in order to come up with ideas that match the conditions of new products required by cooperating companies.We narrowed down the ideas to the urn and created a prototype that incorporates the request of Takeo Watanabe, the dean of the Faculty of Commerce, assuming orders from customers.
Presented a prototype at the "2020th Ending Industry Exhibition" (exhibition specializing in equipment, equipment, and services related to the end of life such as funerals, burials, and memorial services) held from November 11th to 24th, 26.In the future, in addition to improving the quality of prototypes, we are also considering the production of urns for pets, which are expected to be in demand.In addition, we are planning to promote sales activities and SNS advertisements so that they can be used by a wide range of people.
From 2019, satellite offices of the Faculty of Commerce of Chuo University will be set up in Hinohara Village, Kosuge Village, and Tabayama Village, and staff will be stationed in each village to collect information and coordinate activities within the village.This makes it possible to hold classes and conferences using the teleconferencing system, and students are proceeding with the program in close cooperation with local governments and local NPOs.
