Title of this Program

Co-creative innovation leader development program to solve "food and environment" problem based on post SDGs by young professors

Outline of this Program

This program aims to develop human resources that create co-creative innovation. Upon completing the course, the student will co-create a global compact network for “food and the environment” among Japan, Southeast Asia, and southwest Asia through learning concepts of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Purpose of this Program

This program provides students with the opportunity to learn the spirit of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global initiative to be achieved by 2030. The program is designed to develop future global leaders in Southeast and Southwest Asia who are dedicated to co-creation of innovation, with our young faculty members, aiming for achieving a sustainable society in the fields of food and the environment for post-2030 goals.

Features of this Program

This program features the following:

• Helping international students to learn about the SDGs and build a relationship with our young professors, even after earning degrees, so that they can continue to work together to create innovation for achieving a sustainable society toward post-2030 goals over a period of more than 20 years following the completion of the program
• Making unique features and benefits of Okayama University and its surrounding community into international assets in line with the University’s strategy to introduce its educational and research resources and local resources to solve global issues
• Providing ongoing support in collaboration with various stakeholders both within Japan and overseas
• Offering education that expands from Southeast Asia to Southwest Asia and contributes to a decarbonized society, a circular economy and a decentralized society

International Students Desired for this Program

As part of the University’s effort to harness Science, Technology and Innovation for the achievement of the SDGs (STI for SDGs), this program will provide understanding of a strong sense of mission to work toward the creation of a sustainable society. The program aims to foster professionals capable of providing international education and tackling environmental and food issues facing the next generation in Southeast and Southwest Asia over the long term through work and activities that make the most of each person’s expertise. To this end, international students will pursue their degrees under the supervision of young professors (associate professors and other faculty under 45 years old), rather than professors and other faculty over 45 years old. This allows students to build relationships where they can continue to work together to create innovation for achieving a sustainable society toward post-2030 goals, over a period of more than 20 years following the completion of the program.

Professionals Developed in this Program

As mentioned above, the aim of this program is to help students develop the spirit of the SDGs under the supervision of young professors and enhance the skills required for the next generation of global leaders in Southeast and Southwest Asia to develop innovation through co-creation with young professors after earning degrees, aiming for achieving a sustainable society in the fields of food and the environment for post-2030 goals. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Propose measures necessary to address environmental issues
2. Predict and understand the problems that may arise when dealing with issues and minimize losses caused by such problems
3. Predict new challenges
4. Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders from various perspectives through taking these measures
5. Train professionals capable of participating in the creation of a global framework

Unique Courses Offered in this Program

This program offers the following unique courses for the development of the next generation of global leaders: