NEWS

On Thursday, June 25, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) participated in Thursday Gathering, an innovation-focused networking event held at CIC Fukuoka, a hub for industry-academia-community collaboration located in the Tenjin district of Fukuoka City.

The session, titled “What Universities Aim to Achieve Through Industry Collaboration: Initiatives of Universities Based at CIC,” brought together representatives from Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Nihon Fukushi University, and APU. The participating universities introduced the objectives of establishing a presence at CIC and shared examples of their industry-academia collaboration initiatives.

Representing APU, an APU student intern first gave an introduction to the university, followed by a presentation by Professor Mina Fujie, Specially Appointed Faculty Member, on the theme “Driving Corporate Growth Through Global and International Talent.” In her talk, Professor Fujie explained that, amid Japan’s declining birthrate and shrinking population, the utilization of global and international talent should not be viewed simply as a means of filling labor shortages. Rather, she emphasized that bringing diverse perspectives and experiences into organizations can serve as a powerful driver of innovation and the creation of new value. She also highlighted that enabling diverse talent to fully realize their potential requires the development of psychologically safe workplace environments, which in turn necessitates organizational transformation.

The event also featured an introduction to APU’s corporate programs, scheduled to launch in full from Autumn 2026. Through initiatives such as social impact co-creation programs and corporate training programs, APU aims to support organizations in driving transformation and creating environments where diverse talent can thrive.

Leveraging its strategic proximity to Asia, Fukuoka is expected to continue evolving as a global city that attracts people from diverse backgrounds. Through its presence at CIC Fukuoka, APU will further strengthen collaboration with businesses and local communities while advancing initiatives that support both the success of global talent and the sustainable growth of organizations.