COLLABORATION WITH THE REGION AIMING FOR ENTREPRENENEURS

-CASE OF TAKI HIGH SCHOOL BUSINES DEPARTMENT-

Abstract

Using a case study of the “business department” at Taki High School in Aichi prefecture, we de-scribe a mechanism for cooperation between local enterprises, schools and students, and show its effect on student education. The business department was launched in 2014 as a regular club activi-ty that includes “product development” and “business planning.” The product development cooper-ated with students and regional companies created tangible benefits such as the realization of sales and the participation in the national competition of business plan contests. For the collaboration with regional companies, it is found that the mutually-beneficial mechanism among regional com-panies, schools, and students was established by having a coordinator who could adjust the interests of regional companies and students. The educational effect related to the basic abilities to work with diverse people, such as “ability to step forward,” “ability to think out,” and “ability to work in teams,” was confirmed through students' participation in the activities of the business department.