Shibaura Institute of Technology and Betsukai Town in Hokkaido have signed a "Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement" with the aim of contributing to the development of the local community by utilizing each other's knowledge, technology, information, and resources. Using Betsukai Town as their field of study, students and faculty members will work together on collaborative projects to solve local issues and enhance the attractiveness of the region.
In Betsukai Town, leveraging its vast land and abundant resources, the town is actively promoting projects that contribute to regional revitalization, such as stimulating local industries and encouraging migration and settlement. Shibaura Institute of Technology, under its founding principle of "nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society," has been working on learning that extends beyond the university to real-world settings (PBL, problem-solving learning) and solving social issues by utilizing its specialized knowledge.
This agreement will leverage the expertise of "human-centered design," primarily from the Faculty of Design Engineering (Professor Mitsuhiro Shigesato, Design Process Laboratory), and will involve collaboration with townspeople and businesses to create new value through projects such as unifying signage designs, revitalizing the town-run ice rink, and revitalizing roadside stations and local history museums.
Furthermore, by tackling valuable "real-world challenges"—from identifying regional issues to considering and implementing solutions—we aim to cultivate future engineers and designers and contribute to the sustainable development of Betsukai Town.
