2023 Cohort
6
edits
Changes
<br />
=2023 Strategic Priorities=
==='''Strategy #1 Bilingual Networking Event'''===
===='''Background:'''====
This idea of Bilingual Networking Event originated during our discussion about how we might “Promote Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” as outlined in one of the five criteria used for creating the Landscape Canvas. Sophia University currently has multiple initiatives and activities aimed at encouraging students in pursuing their interests in various fields, of which a few feature aspects related to Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E). Events such as Yotsuya Hatch, a business pitch contest hosted by Sophia Start-Up Club, and Hult Prize, an annual global start-up competition, are some of the examples showing there are people in Sophia who are interested in this field. However, despite the implementations of such contests, we concluded that there is a lack of sufficiency in the current resources provided for students at campus to practice I&E. How might we help those start-up and innovation enthusiasts connect to others with the same mindset, so that they can interact and come up with ideas more powerful than any other groups? This is where our Bilingual Networking Event comes in, and based on our interactions with potential users, we concluded that startup enthusiasts are really in need of having the opportunity to meet with the same-minded people as well as real entrepreneurs at their university. In addition, since we want to open this opportunity to everyone at campus, including both Japanese and International Students, we decided to make it into a Bilingual Networking Event, where there will be support from staff to assist with language barriers.
===='''Structure:'''====
The most important aspect of this project is the way we approach each stakeholder and the relationships we build with each of them. First, as for the approach to students, we will focus from the perspective of supporting their careers. Students should be approached first and foremost from the perspective of supporting their own careers, and should be relatively tolerant of students who may present a higher barrier if approached from the perspective of I & E. Secondly as for the entrepreneurs, we would let them use it as a place to test their products and to encourage career adoption. Third, for professors, it would be better to target professors, especially those doing I & E research. This way, there is a possibility that the project itself can be tied to their research. Fourth, regarding university staff, in light of Sophia University's policy, we think it would be better to have them enter the project from a career perspective. These are just hypotheses, and we believe that these can be tested and adjusted again and again in the future to make the project more stable.
===='''Steps:'''====
#Gather as a team and define what the goal of each program will be and set a concrete content of the program.
#For each program there will be a specific persona that we would want to approach, so define them.
#Contact the campus representative and ask for the availability of the venue, and set the date of the event.
#Ask for companies, schools and entrepreneurs for funds, and indicate that as for a return they would have an opportunity to get intouch with international students and also will have an opportunity to do a presentation regarding their business.
#As all stakeholders are clear, map out the plans for all action that will be taken until the day of the event.
#Create an agenda list for the members and assign the tasks.
#Promote the event via instagram, school paper, and any advertising channels.
#Create an image design for the event and make a registration page on peatix.
#Prepare name badges for participants with their names and organizations, promote the information of experts in advance (SNS, Email, etc…) to increase participation.
#Depending on the budget, arrange a catering service that suits the event’s theme and duration while taking in mind the dietary restrictions and allergies.
#The leaders should communicate well and efficiently with each other, and make sure that all plans and logistics are in the right place before the day of the event.
#On the day of the event, implement various ice-breaking activities and interactive workshops to facilitate networking opportunities.
#Gather feedback from participants at the end of the event through Google Forms.
#Send a follow-up email to all participants, including students, to say thank them for coming.
#Analyze the success of our event based on the objectives we set, such as, offering students the opportunity to network, etc…
#Learn the key lessons that are received from the feedback, and plan for the challenges of the future.<br />
==='''Strategy #2 Japanese Innovation & Entrepreneurship Course'''===
===='''Background:'''====
Sophia University offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage in I&E, such as through classes, activities, and many more. However, many international students in Sophia University are seen to frequently participate and actively engage with it, while large numbers of Japanese students do not. Moreover, the likely reason for this participation shortage is caused by the lack of awareness and value of I&E among many Japanese students. Though there are Japanese students who are seen to be keen on I&E, they both lack resources to explore I&E in depth. To support students in Sophia University to continuously support their I&E journey, and spark interest in the concept to those who are unaware, our group is interested in making a website solely about I&E. In the end, we want to be a resource hub that enables students to not only learn about I&E, but also take actions in being involved and creating an impact.
===='''Structure:'''====
We will have professors and students engaged in I&E to participate in the project. Firstly, as we will offer information (e.g: What is I&E, its values, etc.) regarding I&E, professors who are teaching or involved in any I&E classes or activities will cooperate in strengthening the importance of the concept. Moreover, as many professors are teaching in English and Japanese, we will have them promote the website as much as possible, or offer the source for students to use in their research. For students, there are many involved in projects including Hult Prize and UIF. Our website is willing to offer students on the Sophia campus with activities that unleash their potential and interest in I&E, and we will have students engaging in I&E to support this process by having their organizations, circles, clubs, etc. be sponsored on our website. In addition, if there are upcoming events or activities within these groups, we would like that information to be posted on our website to encourage students to engage.
===='''Steps:'''====
#Conduct a survey & collect opinions regarding I&E from students and faculty members.
#Identify clubs, circles, and organizations within Sophia University actively/being involved in I&E.
#Recruit professors and students that are willing to support the project by offering information about their activities and knowledge.
#Receive feedback from stakeholders on information that can be included on the website.
#Creating a website, and getting feedback from a larger number of students and professors.
#Adjust the website according to professors and students' feedback; discuss with professors for possible improvements.
#Revise, and repeat 6.
<br />
==='''Strategy #3 Create a Design Thinking (DS) course as part of the Data Science program to enable students to acquire and learn DS'''===
===='''Background:'''====
Sophia University has realized the need for data science and has successfully expanded its required courses and accompanying courses over the past few years, adding numerous courses. It has greatly improved the bottom line of students' abilities in quantitative aspects. Here, I strongly believe that design thinking should be integrated. The significance of design thinking is that it takes a user-first approach, which develops the qualitative ability to understand problems and needs. This foundation of thinking is also the foundation of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and I believe that it is of great significance for young students to gain learning experiences to understand the concept of Design Thinking before they form their careers, in order to live in the complex world of the future.
===='''Structure:'''====
・Benefits to Stakeholders
・Who are stakeholders→university and data science program officials
(i) Making it a subject in the data science program makes it easier to gain cooperation with existing Data Science programs.
(ii) They can also better emphasize the significance of a subject already existing by marketing design thinking.
・Potential needs
University leadership wants to attract good students and researchers and to keep Sophia education competitive and attractive, students want to acquire the skills that better prepare them for the challenges ahead, etc. But they all share in common that they are Sophia’s who work towards solving the wicked problems that challenges us at different levels.
・Benefits to students
(i) Developing both quantitative and qualitative skills since it is assumed that most students interested in data science will take it because the course is expected to be taken after the required Data science class.
・How to appeal to students with "no prerequisite knowledge" (motivation for students to participate)(i) Have a brief presentation announcing the course posted on Moodle for the final Overview of Data Science session.
(ii) Adding an overview of the course to the existing UIF website may attract students who have already read the existing articles and are interested in the course.
・Timeframe/Implementation costs
(i) 1 to 2 years required (course materials, content, and application, etc.)/cost of inviting lecturers and creating course materials
・Identify resources
(i) Seek help from data science program departments
Factors: (know-how, advice, voluntary cooperation, information, further stakeholder contacts)
(They have started from scratch within the last year, advertising on all media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, posting ads at the bus stop in front of the university, and opening a data science clinic)
====Steps====
1) Refine and radically revise the plan
2) Discuss at the meeting and gain inputs from cohort
3) (Before the stakeholder meeting, ask several stakeholders "what they think, "reality", and "setbacks". Depending on the degree of feedback, go back to 1).
4) Execution (project start)
=2022 Strategic Priorities=
===='''Steps:'''====
# Conduct a survey and collect opinions regarding I&E from students and faculty members from the Japanese-speaking departments# Identify the need for implementing I&E courses (according to survey results)# Recruit professors that are willing to support the implementation of this project and present them the set purpose and goals# Address the idea to professors to receive feedback and comments# Discuss with Japanese-track professors / foreign I&E professors about possible I&E courses that could be implemented in the Japanese language# Create a sample syllabus with professors# Test the idea by creating mock I&E courses course on campus (university-wide)# Get Japanese students' feedback on the mock course# Adjust the syllabus according to students' feedback; discuss with professors for possible improvements# Test the idea again (revised mock I&E courses)# Get Japanese students' feedback on the revised mock course# Final adjustments/discussion with professors & board members# Put forward the class syllabus and plan to the administration in charge# Official implementation of the New Course
==='''Strategy #2: Sophia International Society (SIS)'''===
===='''Steps:'''====
# Talk to Prof. Maruyama and other faculty members about the possibility of creating the Sophia International Society # Gather group opinions/thoughts on ideas (e.g. SPSF, FLA, FST)# Send recruitment survey to find students from each department# Organize a meeting to discuss the possibility and brainstorm ideas for this committee# Create mission, structure/framework and functions of the organization# Create group hangouts/calls with departments to discuss# Send out survey for to gains student voices on the solutions# Prototype one of the solutions# Enact one of the functions outlined by the group (e.g. group meeting with all of SPSF, guest lecture, website, information gathering)## Assess prototype solution completion - was it successful/unsuccessful?## Consider further improvements, functions and/or re-structuring# Create review framework on the topic# Recruit members to sustain the SIS# Official implementation of the SIS
==='''Strategy #3: Sustainable Bento: Making good use of food surplus'''===
===='''Steps:'''====
# Research on food management ecosystem and stakeholders on campus# Interview students (for demand) and main stakeholders (regarding supply side)# Identify the key pain point# Think of solutions to tackle the key issue# Conduct survey with students and faculty for feedback on the ideas# Conduct a stakeholder meeting to propose the project idea# Collaborate with stakeholders throughout the project-making process# Prototype the final chosen solution# Survey students and faculty for feedback on idea to make improvements# Refine the prototype with feedback from stakeholders and users# Recruit members to sustain the project# Official Implementation of the project
==='''Strategy #4: Create an I&E startup collaboration hub'''===
===='''Steps:'''====
# Research and connect with stakeholders that have connections to space management# Ask Sophia about their usage of space and campus, especially Bld.15# Look for open spaces that could be effectively utilized, especially during the weekends# Plan further stakeholder meetings# Think about how we can ensure safety (membership card could be an option) and how students will be able to engage with them# Make a plan of action# Recruit people that will be willing to use the space (find a website to post this and promote it with the consent of the university)# Collaborate with start-ups related to I&E and negotiate with them to offer service to Sophia students in return# Organize and have a test run# Analyze what went well and how we can improve in order to react and respond# Official implementation
=2021 Strategic Priorities=