The University of Tokyo

7/28/2019 The University of Tokyo

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The University of Tokyo (Todai in Japanese) will open a summer program in August 2013. During the two-

week TODAI Innovation Summer Program, the students, both from outside Japan and the University of

Tokyo, will attend classes, workshops and field research in Tokyo and the Tohoku region designed to

hone their skills to innovate and solve social problems. The entire program is built upon themes which

are uniquely Japanese, such as Japan’s vibrant pop culture and recovery efforts in the disaster-struck

areas in the north-east of the country.

Rigorous teaching method

In order to encourage students to develop their skills to innovate and solve problems, the summer program

offers classes/workshops built on two methodologies: the “i.school” method to foster people‟s innovative

thinking, and the case-method teaching, which has been commonly used in business schools worldwide.

Japan-unique contents

Students learn from uniquely Japanese contents. In 2013, the two main themes are Japanese pop culture

(“Cool Japan”) and the Tohoku restoration efforts.

Mixed student body

Students coming from outside Japan to the summer program will study with students from the University

of Tokyo. University of Tokyo students will help the participants from overseas develop a deeper

understanding of Japan, both inside and outside the classroom. At the same time, visiting students can help

Japanese participants to see their own country with „fresh eyes‟/ to gain a new perspective on Japan.

Field experience

The program offers not only classes and workshops but various opportunities for students to study Japan

through hands-on experience, including visits to Japanese companies, field research in Tokyo, home stays

and a field trip to Otsuchi-cho, one of the most severely affected towns of the 3.11 disaster.

Duration

August 1-13, 2013

* Will be back to Tokyo in early morning of August 14.

Eligibility



Currently enrolled in a university (college, master program and PhD program), including those who will

graduate in June 2013

Number of participants

30

* Another 30 students will join the program from the University of Tokyo.

Sites

August 1 – 9: University of Tokyo‟s Hongo campus

August 10-13: Otsuchi-cho, Iwate prefecture,

Tohoku region (Arrive in Tokyo early morning of August 14)

Fees

Participants are asked to pay air fares, daily meals and other various small expenses on their own. All other

costs (see below) are covered by the program: •Tuition fees/Accommodation fees both in Tokyo and

Otsuchi-cho/Group meals/Travelling expenses for the visit to Otsuchi-cho

Program ArchitectureThe program in Tokyo offers two courses in parallel, i.school workshops and case-method classes, and

each course consists of three modules. Participants can register for both courses by module, but if they

choose, they can register for one course only. After completing the programs in Tokyo, all participants will

go on a field trip to Otsuchi-cho, Iwate prefecture.

i.school

Launched in 2009 at the University of Tokyo, i.school has offered workshops and field-based programs to

foster innovative people who are able to think outside the box and discover, enhance, and realize new



values. The school has collabora- ted with various organizations, both in Japan and overseas, known for

their creative and innovative thinking.

During the summer program, i.school offers the following workshops:

•Product innovation workshop: “Made in Japan” global bestsellers •Business innovation workshop: Innovation in Japan‟s pop culture business

•Social innovation workshop: Innovation in Japanese companies‟ corporate social responsibility ––

º„CSR‟strategies for the disaster restoration

Case method teaching

Students will study cases about crisis response to the 3.11 disaster of individuals, communities and

companies and their long-term recovery efforts and get a deeper understanding on lessons learned and

social changes which have emerged as a result of the disaster. By studying through a case-method

approach, students can enhance their skills of factor analysis and problem solving and simulate deci- sion

making, as if they were themselves put in actual critical situations.

Cases used during the program (subject to change):

[Crisis response]

•Leadership and education for disaster prevention: the Kamaishi Miracle

•The private sector‟s crisis response: Yamato Transportation, Harvard Business School case

•Causality analysis of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

[Recovery and restoration]

•The private sector‟s contribution to long-term restoration: Yahoo! Japan, Harvard Business School case

•How a community has rebuilt itself – Onagawa town, Nagahora Genki Village, Otsuchi-cho



Faculty Team

Dr. Hideyuki Horii, Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engineering,

School of Engineering,

The University of Tokyo

Dr. Hideyuki Horii is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the

University of Tokyo. Dr. Horii started his academic career as a researcher of Fracture Mechanics, but

eventually shifted his focus, both in research and education, to technologies for problem solving in the

society, or “socio-technology.” Dr. Horii led research projects on socio-technology at the Research

Institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science



and Technology) and co-founded the Cen- ter for Knowledge Structuring at the University of Tokyo in

which he has served as a chair. As for education, with the con- viction that a new type of education was

needed, Dr. Horii es- tablished i.school at the University of Tokyo in 2009, which offers workshops and

field-based programs designed to foster innovative capability and develop problem solving skills.

In 2011, he was appointed as a director of the social system investigation team in the investigation

committee on the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station of Tokyo Elect- ric Power Company,

and worked on investigating the causes of the accident using his expertise in socio-technology. Dr. Horii

has published a number of books on socio-technology including, Sociotechnology: Design for Problem

Solving “Tokyo, Japan; University of Tokyo Press 2012”and Sociotechnology for Safety and Security

(Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press, 2006). He obtained his B.E. in Civil Engineering from the

University of Tokyo, and M.E. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University.

Organizers

•Center for Knowledge Structuring, the University of Tokyo

•UT-IRIS (University of Tokyo, International Relations Institution of Students)

Application FormPlease fill out and submit the electric application form by April 15 2013.

Note: April 15 is the deadline for students affiliated to universities other than the University of Tokyo.

The deadline for applications from the University of Tokyo students will be announced later.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Documents

The University of Tokyo