Beppu City Comprehensive Strategy Formulation Workshop Support Project— Students and Local Government Collaborating to Co-Create a Vision for the Community’s Future —

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) was commissioned by Beppu City to support the formulation of its next Comprehensive Strategy and, in fiscal year 2024, implemented a series of policy development workshops involving student participation.

This project was carried out with the aim of formulating the next Comprehensive Strategy and Population Vision, which will begin in fiscal year 2025, in response to regional challenges such as population decline and aging.
A key reason for APU’s involvement was the importance of engaging the younger generation who will shape the future of Beppu City in discussions about the city’s long-term vision from multicultural and multinational perspectives. In addition to APU students, the project sought to incorporate perspectives from students at other universities, creating a new model of regional collaboration that integrates youth voices into the policymaking process.

The workshops utilized the “Regional Well-Being Index (Liveable Well-Being City Index®)” developed by the Smart City Institute.
Over approximately six months, a total of six workshops were conducted, with eight APU students from diverse countries and regions participating. Students from Beppu University and Beppu Mizobe Gakuen College, as well as young officials from Beppu City, also joined the program, forming mixed teams to collaboratively analyze issues and develop policy proposals. Based on the index data, participants examined Beppu City’s strengths and challenges and compiled policy recommendations for the city’s future development.

In the final session, each team presented its proposals to the mayor and vice mayor. Some of the outcomes have been reflected in the “Beppu City Comprehensive Strategy for Regional Revitalization (Third Phase).”
https://www.city.beppu.oita.jp/doc/sisei/kakusyukeikaku/sousei/3ki/honpen.pdf

This project provided a valuable hands-on opportunity for students to engage directly in real-world policymaking in collaboration with local government. At the same time, it served as a new model of regional partnership that integrates diverse perspectives into local policy. APU will continue to collaborate with local communities by leveraging its international character and contribute to sustainable community development.