NEWS

On April 8, 2025, students participating in the "New Tourism Hub" project-based learning program unveiled a video they produced for viewing inside the hovercraft.

The "New Tourism Hub" program, initiated under the Friendship and Exchange Agreement signed in 2021 by APU, ORIX Real Estate Corporation, and Suginoi Hotel & Resort, aims to address local tourism challenges. The program's goal is to foster future leaders in the tourism industry and revitalize local communities by bringing together companies and APU students. In 2022 and 2023, intercultural experience events were held at Suginoi Hotel in Beppu. The latest initiative, which began in August 2024, concluded with four student teams presenting their video proposals, after which two teams were selected following a judging process.

As the culmination of these efforts, each selected team produced a three-minute video under the guidance of professional creators, showcasing their filming, editing, and acting skills. These videos were judged by executives from ORIX Real Estate, Suginoi Hotel and Resort, Japan Airlines, Oita Daiichi Hoverdrive, and JTB Corporation.

One of the student filmmakers reflected on the project by saying, "It was challenging to convey the warmth of the people I experienced in Beppu in video format and to effectively communicate this within a three-minute timeframe."

The judges noted, "It was fascinating to see how the two teams highlighted the charm of Beppu from different perspectives," and they encouraged the students by adding, "We hope you will apply the lessons learned from overcoming the challenges in this project to your future academic and professional endeavors."

In his closing remarks, Takaaki Nitanai, President of ORIX Real Estate, said, "This initiative marks the conclusion of our three-year program that began in 2022. We are thankful for the support of our partner companies, which made this possible."

Next, President of APU Hiroshi Yoneyama remarked, "I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this program and provided our students with invaluable experiences. APU will continue to collaborate with companies and local governments to create a positive impact on both Japan and the world."

The videos created by the students will be shown on monitors inside the hovercraft starting in mid-April and will also be available for viewing at Oita Airport, Beppu City Hall, and on YouTube.

Links to the Student Videos

• On a Business Trip to Beppu: Enjoy A Moment of Healing with People, Food, and Hot Springs
• Beppu for Everyone: A City Where You Can Be Yourself
• Video Introduction of the “New Tourism Hub” Project-Based Learning Program