The "breakthrough power" listed is the power to break through stereotypes.

In the description of the ENGINE program, the word "breakthrough power" appears many times.What will "break through"?

"It's a'stereotype'. As we get older, we gain more experience, but on the other hand, it can lead to a biased view. For example, traditional economic models rely on increasing users and consumers for revenue. It's a system, but it won't work if the population declines. "

"It was the new coronavirus that spurred this. The future challenges that I thought were a little ahead suddenly came to my eyes. I moved away from the conventional thinking and switched to a new model. Otherwise, local companies and industries that have been based on the resources and places of the region may really die. "

Therefore, "breakthrough power" is necessary to stick to conventional experience and break down business customs.However, it is difficult to break down by yourself as much as a stereotype created over time, that is, a veteran.Therefore, it is the strength of the younger generation to break through with new values ​​and action, and it can be said that their role is.According to Professor Hayashi, students were among the first to become accustomed to the online society of Corona.While adults are struggling, students have broken through past experiences to acquire new communication styles, not just sticking to traditional forms.

Professor Hayashi emphasizes that adapting to the declining population and the corona disaster "needs a great deal of power close to tearing and resetting the experience so far."Breakthrough power may be the power and determination to throw away what you are carrying.
 

Student matching is severe to achieve results

However, Professor Hayashi points out that there is a stereotyped part on the student side as well.

"Until high school, the weight of'education'taught by teachers is high. Then, it tends to become a habit to remember the correct answer instead of thinking, but the university tackles unanswered problems. If you don't go to learn by yourself, you can't produce anything. "

"It is indispensable to have an attitude of exploring and thinking with one's subject,'learning'. To do so, we must break through the stereotype of'education'."

Certainly, I can learn much more about the events that I have been interested in and researched than the formulas that make me memorize. The ENGINE program is intended for students who are aware of it or have a sense of discomfort.For students, being aware of the program is likely to be the first challenge to use their breakthrough power.

The program started in April 2021, but the first lesson was "Connecting Top Leaders in the Region".The class is an active learning session in which a group of students from three universities discusses real problems with the participation of companies as instructors, and analyzes and thinks about solutions.Attempts to connect the three universities online in real time and implement it are new nationwide.

"This class serves as a mindset for those who wish to participate in the program," and is a "gateway to the dragon," says Professor Hayashi.When students become more interested in this class, they will continue to study in the order of "(XNUMX) literacy fez", "(XNUMX) career development phase", and "(XNUMX) practical ability strengthening phase" over several years from the second semester.

You can judge your aptitude in class first, and if you are suitable, you can enter the ENGINE program in earnest.Matching the orientations of both faculty members (courses) and students is of utmost importance for achieving results.
 

Secure a saucer company with another program

Professor Hayashi has long focused on population decline and has been conducting research on necessary measures.

"Population decline will happen on a global scale. Japan is the first in the world, so we should study it first. Human beings have no experience of a downward-sloping situation." So from 2018, the region Launched the "100-year company creation program" to enhance the growth potential of companies.It is a program that aims to innovate by utilizing human resources from the metropolitan area to solve problems of local companies.

"One of the factors that stagnates the growth of local companies is not just the shortage of people. The problem is the shortage of innovative human resources (outflow and difficulty in training). If there are innovative human resources, the company Based on the theory that it is possible to reform the corporate culture and create new businesses, we will provide a challenging environment in rural areas to human resources who have a career in companies in the metropolitan area, which will lead to a change in the mindset and innovation of local companies.

Now, two years have passed since the start, and the corona wreck has entered, but Professor Hayashi says, "I think Corona is also an'opportunity'." It is a social change that was originally envisioned, and rather it is possible to carry out realistic simulations as soon as possible. "

The mechanism of the 100-year company creation program has been expanded horizontally, and the Kanazawa University model has already been created. In the future, we will work with Toyama University to create innovative companies that will lead the region. In the ENGINE program, in collaboration with this "100-year company creation program" etc., "problem-solving internships" can be held at regional companies that have built a new culture, and they can also serve as a recipient for students who have completed (graduated). I'm assuming.

Students and graduates of the ENGINE program have learned through a special two-year program and have cultivated their breakthrough power, so they must start a new chemical reaction with human resources from the metropolitan area.

ENGINE is a "circle".It ’s the power to move forward.

Are the graduates of the ENGINE program looking for employment in the prefecture, or are they in the three prefecture areas that are linked?

"Because it is a collaboration of three universities, it will be in this area. However, I do not think that there is a place. If the primary purpose is to establish it in the area, it will definitely fail. Many surveys have shown it. Students don't just choose a place to work, so we aim to help students find what they want to do and weigh it down to make their own decisions. "

That is why it is important to work on the "100-year company creation program" and foster local companies that can be selected, in parallel with the student education of the "ENGINE program".

However, in order to include the region as an option, it is important to get to know it, and the utilization of the career development event called "Shigo Talk" held at Shinshu University also emerges.Students listen to their true intentions and actual experiences while interacting with company employees, and they usually hold it about once or twice a month, and once a year they hold an expanded version of "Oshigo Talk". ..

"In the ENGINE program, we plan to participate in career development events at each university, and to hold events such as big talk over a wide area in collaboration with the three universities."
COC + R aims at regional revitalization with an integrated exit, and the ENGINE program has been elaborately designed for the necessary processes.

"Even if you get a job, it is important that you do not become the cogwheel of the company, but continue to grow as a human resource that can be powered by you and transform. Can't be realized "

The name of the ENGINE program is a combination of "ENGINE / engine" which means power and "circle" which means team. Collaboration between the three universities and regional revitalization in Koshi prefecture will not move forward unless everyone works in a circle.The larger the circle, such as universities, students, companies, and local governments, the stronger the power of the engine.
 

Local "terroir" becomes a special product

In the ENGINE program, "transportation," "food," "infrastructure," and "sightseeing," which form the characteristics of each region's lifestyle and culture, are defined as the "core industries" of the region, and cooperation is strengthened with priority. To go.Looking at each area / university, Shinshu University is in the form of transportation and food, Toyama University is in the form of transportation, and Kanazawa University is in the form of tourism. Is.

Professor Hayashi likens the characteristics that can only be found in the region to the "terroir" that is often used in regional brands of his research theme. (Terroir: A word derived from France that refers to the characteristics of the local climate in the cultivation of agricultural products, etc.)

"For example, the Japanese Alps, which straddles Nagano and Toyama prefectures, is an immovable real estate. Also, the terrain, natural environment, climate / climate, lifestyle / culture that they create cannot be brought out to others. Therefore, of course, the metropolitan area as well. , It will be an original and unique thing that can not be provided even in other prefectures. There are abundant unique resources that can only be found in the area. "

"The sense of distance from the metropolitan area made possible by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and highways mentioned at the beginning is also different from other prefectures, and it is an important terroir when considering regional revitalization."
A hub that connects Hokuriku and the metropolitan area.This is also an advantage.

By making the best use of the characteristics of each region and fostering and refining terroir, products and industries that are not found anywhere will stand out. At the same time as working hard with each other in the three universities and three regions, we will form a circle as a whole.If the virtuous circle of both sides works, it must be a great weapon.

Professor Hayashi analyzes that the situation of the times may have been created with the feeling that "the number of students who are very enthusiastic about local issues has increased in recent years."
The engine started running under the factors of population decline and corona damage.It is said that there are still a lot of adjustments to be made, but I am still curious about how to proceed with a strong circle.