The Career Center at Ikuta Campus hosted a PBL (Project Based Learning) event targeting undergraduate students in their first and second years. This event was held last year for the first time as an industry-academia collaboration project with Landflora Co., Ltd. and HIBIYA-KADAN FLORAL Co., Ltd., to propose solutions to challenges in areas along the Odakyu Line. This year marked its second edition. Students worked on planning and presenting the “Green Town Planning Initiative,” a project designed to highlight the unique appeal of specific areas under the theme “CREATING TOGETHER.” These activities aim to enhance their understanding of society, business, and themselves.
The event took place from February 21 to March 21 and consisted of four stages: kick-off meeting, field survey, interim presentation, and final presentation. Sixteen students participated, working in four teams to tackle challenges throughout the month.
On the first day, the kick-off meeting was held at the rental vegetable garden AGRIS SEIJO, operated by Landflora Co., Ltd. The session included an event introduction and a talk covering an overview of the landscape gardening industry and urban farming. As part of the field survey, students visited the rooftop vegetable garden Edible KAYABAEN in Nihonbashikayabacho. Phil Cashman, the garden’s designer, gave a talk that provided deeper insights into the multipurpose use of urban spaces and solutions to social issues. Following the interim presentations, each team developed a plan for the final presentation, incorporating perspectives such as regional characteristics, social challenges and solutions, and profitability.
Students listening to Phil Cashman’s talk at the rooftop vegetable garden Edible KAYABAEN
Participants shared comments such as: “This was my first experience working consistently from planning to proposal, and I realized how challenging it is to reconcile different opinions within a team.” and “Valuable experiences like the field survey sparked deeper thoughts about my future.” After the final presentation, a social gathering was held with employees of HIBIYA-KADAN FLORAL Co., Ltd., giving the participants a vivid image of what it is like to work in society and providing them with great inspiration.
