Entrepreneurship Education: Flexibly Adapting to a Changing Society and Work Environment, and Pioneering One’s Own Path
Entrepreneurship is defined as “the spirit of taking action beyond given circumstances, overcoming various difficulties and changes, and creating new value.” At JWU, we do not limit entrepreneurship education to training entrepreneurs; rather, we cultivate the ability to identify issues, take on challenges toward solving them, and explore solutions in collaboration with others. The University approaches entrepreneurship education from three directions: “Understanding society through financial knowledge,” “Pursuing interests and acquiring practical learning through experience,” and “Understanding the wide range of career choices and challenging oneself.”
Aims of Entrepreneurship Education and Program Characteristics at Each Educational Stage
University
Contributing to Society Through One’s Career
Goal
- Form a concrete image of work and career, and consider how one can contribute to society through one’s chosen profession.
- Develop individuals who can consider the value of money gained through work, its relationship to work, and how to make the best use of it.
Participant Achievement Targets
- Form a concrete image of work and career, and consider how one can contribute to society.
- Address social issues in practical ways and develop rich initiative.
- Utilize connections to one’s field of specialization, understand the wide range of career choices, and take on challenges toward employment, further education, etc.
Programs
- Financial Literacy
・“Introduction to Economics II”: Special lecture on financial education by a guest lecturer to learn about economics, finance, and the use of money. - Practical Learning
・JWU Social Collaboration courses
Tackle regional and social issues in practical ways and develop rich initiative.
・Club and circle activities (recognized and unrecognized)
Pursue personal interests and gain experiential, practical learning through connections with organizations, people, and society. - Career Choice
・JWU Career Support courses
From the first year, acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for social and professional independence.
Utilize connections to one’s field of specialization to identify issues in areas one wishes to apply in society, and explore solutions and personal aptitude.
High School Affiliated with JWU
Fostering the Ability to Live Proactively and Create Value
Goal
- Not only acquire knowledge but also foster the ability to live proactively with awareness of issues, responding to social changes.
- Cultivate the ability to identify issues, solve them, and create new value.
Participant Achievement Targets
- Think proactively, share one’s ideas, listen to others’ opinions, reach consensus, and act.
- Learn about diverse ways of thinking and various life and career designs to shape one’s own career.
Programs
- Financial Literacy
・Learn the mechanisms of the economy, including finance
Politics and Economics (3rd year)
Integrated Home Economics (2nd year) - Practical Learning
・Student council activities (in Japanese, opens in new tab) (all students participate proactively, engage in many discussions, and put decisions into action in cooperation)
Experience in decision-making, planning, and operations, taking on responsibility
Demonstrate leadership and followership
・Period for Integrated Studies
Cultivate the ability to identify and respond to issues. - Career Choice
・“Plus Alpha Learning” (Additional Learning Opportunities)
Special class to consider life and career design
Explanation sessions by alumnae about JWU departments
・Special lecture series “Chi no Izumi” on “Considering Diverse Career Paths”
Junior High School Affiliated with JWU
Learning Proactively and Envisioning the Future
Goal
- Acquire the knowledge necessary for living in society, and consider how to spend one’s life in order to design one’s own life plan and choose and decide on a career path proactively.
Participant Achievement Targets
- Acquire knowledge about money needed to realize one’s envisioned life plan.
- Develop an attitude of deepening one’s own learning.
- Learn about various career options and consider one’s own way of life.
Programs
- Financial Literacy
・Learn about consumer life (Technology & Home Economics, 3rd year)
・Learn the basics of economic activity (Social Studies, 3rd year)
・Learn about earning income through work, saving money, and precautions when spending money (Financial Education Course) - Practical Learning
・Hands-on education in each subject
・Student council activities (in Japanese, opens in new tab)(all students participate proactively, engage in many discussions, and put decisions into action in cooperation)
・Present club/committee activity achievements（October Festival）(in Japanese, opens in new tab)
・Research a self-chosen topic over one year and compile findings (Annual Research, 3rd year) - Career Choice
・Listen to talks by university students (alumnae) (“Welcome, Senpai!”, 1st year)
・Learn about work related to the world and peace (International Understanding class, 2nd year)
・Hear from alumnae active in various professions (Career Class, 3rd year)
・Special lectures by university faculty (One Day at Mejiro, 3rd year)
Homei Elementary School Affiliated with JWU
Learning About How Society Works and Building a Foundation for the Future
Goal
- Acquire the knowledge necessary for living in society and create a foundation to fully utilize one’s abilities in the future.
Participant Achievement Targets
- Learn about various fields as personal matters through experience, and envision one’s future.
- Understand the flow and function of money in everyday life and its role in society.
Programs
- Financial Literacy
・Learn about the “flow of money” in everyday life and cultivate gratitude for one’s current circumstances (Lecture)
・Gain intuitive understanding of cash flow and the mechanism of price determination (Grades 1–3)
・Experience entrepreneurship and business management, and learn its appeal (Grade 6) - Practical Learning
・Hands-on education in each subject
・After visiting the shopping street, discuss in groups, create products, and open a shop (Homei Shopping Street, Grade 2)
・Visit a post office, learn how mail is delivered, and operate a post office within the school (Homei Post Office, Grade 2) - Career Choice
・Listen to stories from alumnae active in society (Grades 1–6)
・Research occupations and create a “Dream Tree” (Grade 4)
・Role activities (Grades 1–3), volunteer club activities (Grades 4–6), “One Role per Student” (Grade 6)
・Set goals and simulate career paths (Grade 4)
・JWU Homei Summer School（in Japanese, opens in new tab）
Homei Kindergarten Affiliated with JWU
Promoting Harmonious Development of Mind and Body, and Nurturing Potential
Goal
- Nurture the seeds of potential and promote balanced development of a healthy body and mind within warm human relationships.
Participant Achievement Targets
- Learn about various occupations, develop admiration for them, and role-play them in play.
- Approach activities with enthusiasm, think creatively, and enjoy the joy of creating.
Programs
- Financial Literacy
・Role-play using money in play activities, such as “pretend shops”
・Go shopping in the neighborhood, handle real money, and experience purchasing items - Practical Learning
・Act proactively in play and daily life, and take on various challenges
・Find interesting things, think about them in one’s own way, and try them out - Career Choice
・Learn about occupations and develop admiration through activities such as traffic safety guidance, visits to fire stations, shopping in stores, and exchanges with athletes
・Enjoy various pretend-play activities
・JWU Homei Summer School（in Japanese, opens in new tab）
