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Jan 31, 2025
From November 23 to 25, an intensive workshop for the "New Tourism Hub" problem-solving learning program, part of an agreement between Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), ORIX Real Estate, and Suginoi Hotel And Resort, was held. As the hovercraft, which is set to begin operations this winter, was the focus of learning, two concepts for promotional videos to be screened onboard were selected.
The New Tourism Hub program aims to nurture talent involved in the tourism industry. It is a learning program where APU students collaborate with companies to address local tourism challenges, based on the "Friendship and Exchange Agreement" signed in December 2021. This program involves ORIX Real Estate, Suginoi Hotel And Resort, Japan Airlines, OITA DAIICHI HOVERCRAFT, and JTB, as supporting companies. The goal is for students to work with local communities and companies to learn about tourism through problem-based learning (PBL*) that addresses regional tourism issues.
This year marks the third year of the industry-academia collaboration, and the focus was on creating promotional video content to be screened on the hovercrafts traveling between Oita Airport and Oita City, which will begin service this winter.
*About Project-Based Learning (PBL):
PBL is a learning method designed to develop the ability to identify and solve problems independently.
In August 2024, the program for this year officially began with a kickoff event attended by 21 selected students from an open call. From November 23 to 25, students participated in input-based activities, including research at Beppu SUGINOI HOTEL,Hover Drive and Oita Airport, learning about regional challenges in Oita and new initiatives in the tourism industry, and listening to talks from tourism professionals in Beppu. The final day focused on preparing presentations about the promotional video content concepts to be selected.
On November 25, the final day, corporate representatives and participating students gathered at the APU Green Commons, where four groups presented their video content concepts. Judges, including executives from ORIX Real Estate, senior members of the partner companies and Professional video creators (APU alumni), carefully deliberated after each presentation. As a result, the top two promotional video concepts were chosen. These concepts will now move to the production stage under the guidance of professional creators, with the goal of releasing the videos in the spring of 2025.
"We came up with an idea based on the theme of 'the charm of Oita from a new perspective that everyone can enjoy and agree with.' We are grateful for the opportunity to transform our carefully developed idea into a video. At the same time, we are excited and feel a sense of responsibility now that the production of the promotional video content is officially starting. We believe that our presentation, which conveyed our passion for the theme, was appreciated, and we are very happy with the outcome."
"We developed our promotional video idea around the theme of 'Healing in Beppu, a place yet to be discovered.' We are pleased that the idea we built together as a team came to fruition. At the same time, we are thankful for this valuable opportunity. We hope to create a work that expresses the warmth of Beppu’s people and the healing atmosphere of the city, using 'the steam of the hot springs' to transition between scenes."
Copyright (c) 2016 Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
