NEWS

As part of the collaborative agreement between Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Orix Real Estate, and Suginoi Hotel & Resort, APU students have been tasked with producing promotional videos for Oita, which will be shown to passengers aboard the hovercraft set to begin operation in the fall of 2024.

On August 1st, students gathered at a terminal in Oita City for discussions on the hovercraft service as well as Oita’s attractions and challenges. These discussions are a precursor to the production of the promotional video.

This initiative, which aims to foster human resources in the tourism industry, is part of the "New Tourism Hub" learning program. The program is based on the "Friendship and Exchange Agreement" signed by the three organizations in December 2021 and focuses on solving local tourism challenges in collaboration with APU students. In 2022 and 2023, as part of this practical learning program, APU students organized and operated a cross-cultural experience called the "Multi Cultural Festival" at the Suginoi Hotel in Beppu, showcasing their ability to design and manage cultural events.

This year, as part of the third year of this industry-academia collaboration, three companies—Japan Airlines, Oita Hoverdrive Co., Ltd., and JTB Corporation—joined as supporting partners. Through project-based learning (PBL), students will work with local communities and companies to address regional tourism challenges. The first project involves creating and implementing a video for the hovercraft, which will introduce new tourism content for the region.

Moving forward, the goal is for students to take on a leading role in organizing solutions for regional tourism challenges.

What is PBL?
PBL stands for Project-Based Learning, a method that fosters the ability to identify and solve problems through hands-on learning experiences.