Kenichi OKAMURA

What I learned through the EDGE program

Department of Bioinformatics

College of Life Sciences

Ritsumeikan University

Kenichi OKAMURA

Abstract

In my video, I would like to introduce EDGE + R program. And introduce what I felt about it, and what I grew up with.

Introduction

Hello! I'm Kenichi Okamura, a third-year student at Ritsumeikan University. My Department is LifeScience and bioinformatics. My hobbies are visiting hot springs, computers, and smartphones. I especially love Apple products. I always purchase major Apple products. I love things that can change the world. So in my university students' life, I joined about similar ones. So, My theme is What I learned through the EDGE+R program.

What is EDGE＋R Program is

Let me introduce what the EDGE + R program is all about. The official name of the EDGE + R program is “Ritsumeikan University EDGE + R (Innovation Architect Training Program)”.

Here, I would like to list what I have participated in, an overview of the program, and what I did there.

The EDGE + R program includes the core EDGE + R program, and many programs are prepared as optional programs. In this video, I will explain mainly what I participated in this video.

The program Which I Participated In

Here are the ones I participated in:

・ EDGE + R program

・ IDEA Asia Pacific Summer Camp 2018 in APU

・ Venture life Challenge

・ EDGE SPROUT

EDGE Program (Original)

First, let me introduce the EDGE + R program.

The EDGE + R program is a one-year program. In two workshops and one course, you will learn practically three design-related techniques.

The first (lecture) is to learn the methods and ideas of “design-driven innovation,” which has recently been attracting attention as the third innovation in Europe, in a lecture-style together with working adults.

This first lecture is a series of two consecutive lectures on design-driven innovation, which has recently attracted attention as a method of creating and realizing ideas. I wore

Design-driven innovation is called "meaningful innovation," and has recently attracted attention mainly in Europe and the United States. Rather than solving problems or developing user-oriented development, we will make radical changes and reforms by giving new "meaning" to products and services based on our passion vision.

The second (Workshop 1) teaches a new business concept design using the "system design" method.

Here, I learned practically what system design is, and then conducted a workshop using what I learned there.

System design is a new method that combines "systems engineering" and "design thinking." Emphasizing the diversity of the team, it breaks things down into components and reconstructs them creatively and systematically to create new innovations.

The third one (Workshop 2) teaches “design thinking,” an approach for generating innovation from Stanford University, by building business ideas for solving local issues. Aiming at “proposed solutions based on observations”, discover potential issues and needs from the user's perspective through fieldwork, surveys, and exchange of opinions between teams, and create new values and solutions that differ from existing products and services. Is embodied through prototyping and the like.

In July, all the program participants held an idea pitch, and each student made an idea proposal. Furthermore, as a field for learning Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, students will learn design thinking practically. We learned the outline of design thinking in advance learning, and in the fieldwork in the field, the team created new business ideas based on field observations.

Through these programs, you will start with idea creation, promote team projects, and practically learn various skills and minds to make the final proposal attractive. Above all, I was able to experience the fun of creating things and things like never before with various team members from different undergraduates and grades.

Also, although I have not participated yet, I will also participate in overseas training for students only. Overseas training is a program that considers business ideas locally based on actual issues found locally. I am looking forward to it.

IDEA Asia Pacific Summer Camp 2018 in APU

Next up is the IDEA Asia Pacific Summer Camp 2018 in APU program. This program is a three-night, four-day program held at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu. Participating universities are mainly Kyushu University, Ritsumeikan University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and Osaka Prefecture University. The official language is English, which discusses the given theme and proposes a business plan that solves issues in Beppu. The content was a practical program using design thinking. After studying design thinking, I actually did fieldwork in Beppu City and created a business plan.

I want to explain what I learned here.

The first thing I learned was the practical experience of design thinking. From the fundamentals of design thinking to the applied ones, I was able to do it through practice.

Next is the difficulty of team activities. I thought I understood the difficulties of working in a team, but taking into account people from different nationalities was even more difficult.

Finally, I realized once again the importance of creating a prototype after the idea came out.

Venture Life Challenge

Next up is the Venture life Challenge. This program involves the fundamentals of management presented by student teams of different nationalities, affiliated universities, and majors from startups aiming to realize innovation and ventures or companies maintaining a strong venture spirit aiming to creatively solve regional issues. This is a two-week PBL program that solves problems. The name of the company I participated in was hidden, but I joined the sink & do tank system. There, the challenge was to find it yourself and find the solution yourself. I was nervous because I was older than myself, but I had a very valuable experience.

What I learned here is the importance of mentors when conducting activities. The direction is important when conducting activities, but it turns out that people who support us so that the direction does not change become very important.

In addition, it was a two-week program instead of a one-day or two-day program, so I was able to do a lot of activities. Finally, the official language was English, so it was very fresh.

EDGE SPROUT

The last is about EDGE SPROUT.

EDGE SPROUT means that after attending the EDGE + R program, people who want to continue team activities gather and continue activities while creating business plans.

When I was active, I was able to participate in various business contests through various team activities.

What I learned at EDGE SPROUT is the importance of team activities and working while adjusting the motivation of members. It was also great learning that I had to think inside the members quite a bit because I created a full-fledged business plan.

Final Talk

This time I explained what I learned and learned about the EDGE + R program I attended, but there are many other wonderful programs and extracurricular activities at Ritsumeikan University.

Please challenge various activities positively by all means.

Thank you for watching&reading.

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