ZEN University has established a new scholarship program for Starbucks Coffee Japan employees (partners) through industry-academia collaboration. This is the first industry-academia collaborative scholarship program of its kind at ZEN University. Through this program, the university aims to promote educational support for young people and reskilling for working adults, thereby supporting diverse career development. The enrollment of new students under this program is scheduled for April 2027.
This collaboration brings together Starbucks, which has stores throughout Japan and employs many young people, and ZEN University, which aims to provide high-quality education to all those who wish to study at higher education institutions by utilizing IT technology, with the goal of creating new educational opportunities for young people nationwide. In the future, they will deepen their collaboration in educational activities, leveraging the expertise of both parties.
ZEN University will use this program as a model case to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and expand educational opportunities throughout Japan. By further enhancing ZEN University's strengths—its broad interdisciplinary curriculum and problem-solving programs available nationwide—and updating the way education is conducted, ZEN University will become an "optimal place for learning" where people can continue their studies, research, and activities regardless of location or region. This will support the realization of diverse career paths for young people and contribute to creating a society without educational disparities based on region.
Shiho Fujimori, Secretary-General of ZEN University, commented, "Through this program, we will fully support Starbucks partners (employees) in their pursuit of knowledge without financial worries and in updating their careers to make them more fulfilling, using ZEN University's educational system. In the future, we are also considering implementing special classes and workshops that are directly related to practical learning through this collaboration. We are confident that this initiative will be a sure step towards a hopeful future for those who aspire to take on new challenges."
