Essential value and potential of KOSEN which have generated over 500 thousand innovative and practical engineers worldwide

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What is KOSEN?

You have maybe never heard about “KOSEN”, but it is Japanese Unique Institutes of Higher Education, not like vocational or technical colleges translated and meant in English basis.

1st group of KOSEN colleges (12 schools) were founded in 1962, and now, there are 51 National colleges, 3 Public colleges, and 3 Private colleges in entire Japan.

The detailed explanation and introduction of the Kosen’s overview can’t be done here in this space (you can maybe read this if you like https://www.kosen-k.go.jp/english/what/), but here we want to review and deepen the essential value and even the further potential for our world’s and people’s further better prosperity and development worldwide.

The unique and successful educational system in Japan for higher education on engineering, which have sustained and contributed for Japanese miracle high economic growth so far and created future development on the basis of science and technology.

Studying and experimenting courses (well-balanced structure on Liberal Arts subjects and majored Engineering subjects) in 5-year from 15 years old (advanced course : additional 2 more years and/or enter higher educational institutes), they are emphasizing on scientific experiments, workshop training, and practical manufacturing skills in addition to fundamental science lectures under collaboration with industries.

I think the close “collaboration with industries” must be very key part.

Kosen try to bring up Innovative and Practical Engineers to solve social problems on the industries ground worldwide and to make an innovation by the power of science and technology as the “Social Doctors. It is totally different with general schools, colleges, and universities which require us to input so many knowledge and logic much more on book, classroom, desk or/and computer basis.

Such major schools and colleges sometimes generate gaps between demand of industries and supply of graduates, so the Kosen have been filling well the gap for tremendous sustainable growth of the industries in and from Japan by industries leaders claim and pioneering spirit. ??

Kosen try to bring up Innovative and Practical Engineers to solve social problems on the industries ground worldwide and to make an innovation by the power of science and technology as the “Social Doctors

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Role of KOSEN is widely and deeply expanding

Interestingly, scope of the role of Kosen is actually expanding now.

Sixty years have passed since the design of the Kosen system as an educational institution responsible for practical education of science and technology.

In recent years, they have begun to focus on cutting-edge technology research, such as space development and entrepreneurial support trying to adjust with current updated demand of our industries and society. As a base for producing human resources who contribute to the revitalization of the economy and society in the region, Japan, and the world at the field level, they seems to have achieved further improvement in its existence value.

The Japanese government is also reassessing the potential of its Kosen.

The government's operating subsidy budget for national Kosen in fiscal 2022 is 62.5 billion yen, up 7% from fiscal 2013 (although I honestly feel that it is still small...). The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has announced that they will introduce a curriculum related to "fields required in this new era" such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots.

Interestingly, scope of the role of Kosen is actually expanding now.

The initiative of Suzuka Kogyo Kosen in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture is also interesting.

In 2018, the Kosen opened a dedicated space for joint research with small and medium-sized enterprises on the premises, the "Industry-Academia-Government Collaborative Laboratory." Persons from their companies aiming to develop new products visit the Kosen and conduct research and development jointly with faculty members and students of departments in the Kosen that can meet the needs.

They have already collaborated with seven companies, including from Mie Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Tokyo Prefecture, on the development of automation technology and equipment.

Gunma Kogyo Kosen in Maebashi City is focusing on the field of space development. As the school's first challenge, teachers and students produced the main body and parts of the artificial satellite (KOSEN-2) mounted on the rocket launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) last October.

The motor required to change the direction of the satellite was developed in collaboration with Onozuka Seiki, a long-established machine manufacturer in the prefecture. Indeed, it proved that it is possible to take on challenges in fields that have been led by the government and universities, even in Kosen. Knowing their wonderful activities and achievement, I just wonder if there is more valued experience and educational learning for students who aspire to be manufacturing or engineering fields.

Their activities and results certainly meet the needs of the industry and bring about a positive change in the ecosystem from the local.

Ichinoseki Kogyo Kosen puts a lot of effort into helping students start businesses. Since 2018, their “Entrepreneur Human Resource Development Jyuku(School)” has been held for students of all grades. Inviting top executives of local companies as their lecturers, they teach their own experience and know-how to students who aspire to start a business. In fact, they have contracted about 20 projects from companies and local governments, starting actual businesses on the ground.

Their activities and results certainly meet the needs of the industry and bring about a positive change in the ecosystem from the local

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KOSEN’s values further in the world

Today and in the future, digitalization is progressing worldwide, and the speed of economic and social change is accelerating.

In such an environment, it may be necessary to flexibly change and adapt the educational system. Kosen is just the right size to do that.

For example, it seems that since last year, some Kosen in Kyushu area has been used as a base school to start a semiconductor’s related human resource development project through industry-academia collaboration. Ahead of the starting operation of a huge semiconductor factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, their students can learn the basics of semiconductor engineering. Their Kosen are aiming to supply relevant human resources to the upcoming huge demand in the market. If they were a university, it would take so much time to decide what to do with the curriculum. But because it was Kosen, they were able to think while running and taking actions.

it may be necessary to flexibly change and adapt the educational system. Kosen is just the right size to do that

From now on, it may be an era where it is not enough to be strong only in a specific field. Innovation happens when various fields fuse together, and Kosen are unique in that they pursue such a form. National Kosen schools?all over the country in Japan have departments such as electricity, mechanics, architecture/civil engineering, and biology etc. So there are ways for students and teachers to learn and teach two major style and three major style by making use of their Kosen’s network and infrastructure of remote internet environment.

In fact, the introduction and establishment of the Kosen has begun to progress around the world. There are already Kosen schools in Mongolia and Thailand, and there is a school modeling Kosen school in Vietnam.

In fact, there are aspects of Kosen school’s education that are highly valued overseas outside of Japan. It seems that many people from other Asian and African regions also want to introduce Kosen schools or the model in their nation. Practical and innovative engineer human resources are required to be developed all over the world, including emerging countries, but it is not easy to develop because it requires various type of resources.

Therefore, there is no doubt that there is great value in the fact that Japan's Kosen school’s business will begin to spread in each region and country in a good way in the future, because there is an overwhelming shortage anywhere worldwide. If there is an opportunity, I would pursue the possibility and feasibility for sure.

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