New endowed course aimed at developing next-generation human resources ~Contributing to sustainable development in the Shonai area through industry-academia-finance collaboration~

Tohoku University of Community Service and Science ("Koeki University"), VENTI JAPAN Inc., THE SHONAI BANK, Ltd., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. and Mitsubishi Corporation Offshore Wind Ltd. will open an endowed course aimed at developing next-generation human resources ("Course") at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Koeki University for the 2022 fall semester.

The Course will be a part of the "introduction to SDGs course" of basic education courses launched at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Koeki University in FY2021. Lectures will feature decarbonization initiatives, natural environments, regional development, energy, and others.

In addition to the 4 companies, the Course will invite experts from companies that promote ESG management as guest lecturers for practical lectures, thereby improving problem-setting skills and problem-solving skills of the participants for developing human resources that can propose solutions for local community issues as their "own personal matter".

Koeki University has strived to solve compounding of the issues associated with an aging society and decreasing population as well as serious global issues; by fusing arts and sciences, collaborating among multiple academic disciplines and rallying regional strengths. As issues to be tackled by universities are becoming more and more diversified as the society becomes complex and technology develops, liberal arts courses, including natural science, are needed to understand the current situation and issues of the society.

The endowed course to be opened will match the needs of Koeki University. Areas such as renewable energy, power generation business to be accepted by local residents, and regional sustainability are liberal arts subjects that students should acquire as a prerequisite for studying a specialized field. We hope such education from industry-academia-finance collaboration will help develop human resources that can contribute to the local community.

The 4 companies will fully utilize their diverse knowledge and networks cultivated through their businesses to contribute to sustainable development in the Shonai area through human resources development by this Course and continue to implement and support initiatives for regional development, industrial growth and early realization of a carbon-free society.

[Description of the endowed course]

[Description of the 4 companies]

Tohoku University of Community Service and Science