Okayama University Hosts PMI Japan's Academic Sponsor Conference on AI in Project Management Education

On August 22, 2026, Okayama University, under the leadership of President Yasuto Nasu, participated in the Academic Sponsor Conference organized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) Japan Chapter. The conference, titled "Academic Sponsor Conference 2026: Deepening Cooperation and Student Engagement in Project Management Education," took place at Keio University’s Hiyoshi campus and aimed to enhance networking within the academic community, particularly focusing on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational practices.

During the event, the first session revolved around the utilization of AI in education. This engaged both industry and academic panelists who shared insights on the current state and future potential of AI in educational environments. They discussed practical applications, challenges, and opportunities that educators and institutions face when adopting AI technologies.

The second session focused on real-world case studies related to Project Management (PM) education. Shingo Fujii, a director of PMI Japan, opened the session by discussing the landscape surrounding project management in education. Following this, Vice President Hohin Sato, along with his URA (Universities' Research Administrator) role, presented on the topic "Nurturing Doctoral Talent and Management in AI for Science.” His presentation highlighted the rapid integration of AI into scientific research and its influence on nurturing doctoral candidates, as well as the critical role of planning, execution, and verification in scientific endeavors involving AI.

In his remarks, Sato underscored the importance of ensuring scientific integrity through AI involvement in research processes and tackled the complexities faced by educators in managing these advancements. He provided data and case studies to illustrate the current state of AI management in educational settings and proposed future considerations for tackling identified challenges.

Discussions throughout the conference reflected various opinions on how AI can both enhance and sometimes complicate the educational experience. President Nasu noted that everyone has likely experienced times when AI serves as a valuable educational tool and times when it does not. He emphasized that as an institution at the forefront of higher education, the management of AI has become essential yet remains an area where knowledge needs to be shared more widely. Consequently, the university aims to collaborate with stakeholders to provide insights and best practices in AI management.

Fujii echoed the sentiment about the need for continuous growth beyond PM learning in the second session. He expressed that the insights shared by Sato offered meaningful perspectives on how universities should navigate the management of AI outputs within the educational framework.

Okayama University, officially an academic sponsor of PMI Japan, collaborates with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on the “Research Management Human Resource Development Program.” Additionally, in collaboration with PMI Japan, the university conducts foundational training for project management tailored to faculty and staff, and it has received the “Okayama University SDGs Innovation Award” (Special Award) in the PMI Japan-sponsored PM Award for excellence in project achievements. This collaboration reflects a long-standing partnership aimed at enhancing project management practices within Japan's academic sectors.

Moving forward, Okayama University plans to continue broadening its societal contributions and evolving as a research university by offering guidance and knowledge on project management in education while also addressing new challenges in scientific development and management strategies.

Stay tuned for upcoming developments from Okayama University and PMI Japan's initiatives as they continue to drive innovation and excellence in project management education.

Participation of PMI Japan Director Shingo Fujii

Participation of PMI Japan Director Shingo Fujii

References

For any inquiries regarding the event or future collaborations, please contact the Okayama University Research and Innovation Collaboration Management Unit at their headquarters.