By connecting iU’s distinguished visiting professors and students via smartphones, iU proposes a new educational model for universities.
Information Management Innovation Professional University (located in Sumida-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “iU”) has opened “iU mobile,” a virtual research lab that provides online learning from visiting professors to students.
This initiative utilizes “Goocus,” a mobile learning platform developed and operated by Castalia Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture; Tokyo headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “Castalia”), as a tool to connect visiting professors and students.
■ What Is the Virtual Research Lab “iU mobile”?
iU mobile is a virtual research lab in which visiting professors provide online learning in their respective fields of expertise. Within each research lab, professors share information with enrolled students, deliver lectures, and engage in two-way communication with them.
Through interactions with visiting professors, the initiative aims to offer students new forms of learning that are not typically available at conventional universities, as well as opportunities that encourage them to take their first steps forward. In addition, the virtual research labs are expected to produce the following three outcomes.
1. Educational Impact :
Providing new, industry-connected learning experiences that are not usually available at traditional universities, inspiring students to move forward and supporting their personal growth.
Providing new, industry-connected learning experiences that are not usually available at traditional universities, inspiring students to move forward and supporting their personal growth.
2. Application to Lifelong and Professional Education :
In the future, the platform is envisioned as an educational environment where not only students but also working professionals, international participants, high school students, and local community members from around the world can gather and learn together.
In the future, the platform is envisioned as an educational environment where not only students but also working professionals, international participants, high school students, and local community members from around the world can gather and learn together.
3. Connections Among Visiting Professors :
Fostering networking among visiting professors through collaborative research labs and other initiatives.
Fostering networking among visiting professors through collaborative research labs and other initiatives.
The platform adopted for iU mobile, Goocus, offers features and interfaces optimized for smartphone-based learning. It is designed to ensure that students, the university, and faculty members remain connected through learning at all times, including during students’ internships at companies.
In the current academic year, approximately 60 visiting professors have participated and opened virtual research labs. Additional labs are scheduled to be launched sequentially by other visiting professors in the future.
In the current academic year, approximately 60 visiting professors have participated and opened virtual research labs. Additional labs are scheduled to be launched sequentially by other visiting professors in the future.
■ About iU’s Visiting Professors
- Approximately 250 visiting professors are currently affiliated with iU.
- iU’s visiting professors are professionals who are active across a wide range of industries. They provide students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills in various industries, sectors, and occupations. As many of them are practitioners, they are also expected to contribute to the development of students’ practical abilities and creativity. Furthermore, iU hopes that encounters with visiting professors will serve as an opportunity for students to grow significantly and go on to succeed in society.
Having more than 200 visiting professors per academic year is an exceptionally large number and is considered to be among the highest in Japan. Looking ahead, iU envisions creating new learning opportunities through collaboration among visiting professors, as well as providing spaces for learning together not only for students but also for working professionals, local community members, and people from around the world.
■ About iU
University Overview
□ University / Faculty / Department
- University Name: Information Management Innovation Professional University (Nickname: iU)
- Faculty Name: Faculty of Information Management Innovation, Department of Information Management Innovation
□ President
Ichiya Nakamura
Career History
- 1984: Joined the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications after serving as director for the rock band Shonen Knife
- 1998: Visiting Professor, MIT Media Lab
- 2002: Director, Stanford Japan Center
- 2006: Professor, Keio University Graduate School
- April 2020: Appointed President of Information Management Innovation Professional University
□ Campus Information
- Main Campus: 1-18-13 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Satellite Office: Tokyo Port City Takeshiba Office Tower 8F, 1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Students: 230 (first cohort)
- Full-time Faculty: 28
□ Educational Philosophy
“Enjoy change, learn independently, and create innovation.”
□ Core Educational Concept
ICT × Business × Global Communication + Internships for All × Entrepreneurship for All × Online Learning
- ICT Education: A wide range of ICT skill education, including programming, AI, and big data, based on the educational foundation built by the Electronics Academy
- Business Creation Education: Business skills education delivered by practitioner faculty, fostering business literacy and the ability to develop business plans
- Practical English and Global Education: English education to develop skills required to work on the international stage, combined with the acceptance of international students to enhance global diversity
- Internships and Real Projects: 640 hours of internships per student and hands-on, real-project-based education conducted within actual business environments
- Entrepreneurship for All: A support system that enables all interested students to challenge themselves to start a business while enrolled
- Online Learning Support: An enhanced learning environment that encourages proactive and independent learning, based on the concept of “learning anytime, anywhere”
□ Target Human Resources
- Individuals capable of solving challenges and creating new products, services, and businesses using ICT across a wide range of industries and organizations
- Entrepreneurs who contribute to industrial development in both global and local communities by creating new products, services, and businesses through the use of ICT
■ About Goocus
Goocus is a mobile learning platform designed to pursue the optimal form of learning on smartphones. It is developed with the aim of improving learning continuity for learners and enabling automation of education for administrators.
■ About Castalia
Castalia Co., Ltd. is a technology company specializing in educational services. In a complex and rapidly changing society, the company develops and provides learning tools using cutting-edge technology to enable individuals and organizations to learn more efficiently.
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