Intercultural Collaborative Learning Project (B-1)

Specific details of course implementation shall be finalized after coordinating with relevant organizations. From the syllabus contents released in April, more concrete contents and schedules are described. The course shall proceed as initially planned, "COIL sessions with international students from overseas universities through online platforms, and an in-person international collaborative learning program," and fieldwork in Hakuba village shall be incorporated for more effective learning of regional issues.

1. Background
Hakuba village is known as a tourist destination, with mountain tourism, ski resorts, and diverse accommodation facilities. Foreign tourists and immigrants have increased in recent years. However, the issue of the aging population and declining birthrate has also been progressing. The population is expected to decrease by approximately 30% in 30 years from the 2015 level, with the working-age population expected to fall by 40%. The number of drivers of private cars and transportation services are reducing because of the aging population, which threatens the maintenance of transportation services. The number of people without access to transport is increasing, and tourist transportation is expected to become more difficult. In 2023, Hakuba village began to develop an on-demand transportation service through an industry-academia-government collaboration.
　
2. Primary Course Objective: Potential of solving transportation issues with an AI-on-demand transportation service
Participating students shall use the AI-on-demand transportation service introduced in Hakuba village, discuss its effectiveness and challenges, and debate whether its implementation in other regions facing similar challenges could help solve aging-related transportation problems.

3. Course Subtopics: Experiencing the charm of Hakuba's countryside. The course is intentionally offered during the off-season of tourism to increase the probability of using the AI-on-demand transportation service. The focus is on experiencing the "countryside"—a living place surrounded by rich nature—recording its charm, and sharing insights with the relevant stakeholders.

Regional challenges (Transportation, Tourism, Aging), Inbound demand, Community sustainability, AI-on-demand transportation services, convenience, efficiency, environmental impact, SDGs, International collaborative learning, Group work, discussion, Cross-cultural understanding, foreign language communication

1. Pre-Program Study
1-1. Guidance, Lectures, Group-Work
・Guidance and Grouping (Groups of 4 students) (30 minutes)
・Lecture by stakeholders on the transportation challenges and efforts to solve them in Hakuba village. Assignment 1: Watch video: Note mechanism of the AI-on-demand transportation service + challenges and measures to solve them. Assignment 2: Install app on device (smartphone).
1-2. Group Work
・Groups decide visit locations and times to Hakuba village. ・Submit on Padlet to share with other groups and review the submissions of other groups. ・Confirm the state of installation of the AI-on-demand transportation service app. ・Assignment 1: Review assignments of other groups and enter comments on Padlet.
1-3 Pre-Visit Guidance and Survey Tool Preparation
・Confirming installation and usage of survey form (ArcGIS Survey 123)
・Preparing survey table (instructor). Students: Fill in and submit the survey test. ・Plan confirmation

2 Fieldwork in Hakuba village

3. Post-Visit

4. Creating and submitting the final report

Syllabus (Japanese site only)