#Japan #Tokyo #ServiceDesign #FourDigit #TokuyamaTech

Collaborative Workshop Success Between FourDigit and Tokuyama Technical College

In a significant move toward enhancing educational frameworks, FourDigit, a Tokyo-based digital services company, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tokuyama Technical College. This partnership aims to introduce cutting-edge service design education programs, exemplified by a three-day workshop held from June 5 to June 7, 2026.

Background of the Workshop

FourDigit has extensive experience in providing service design education across Southeast Asia, including past collaborations with multiple universities in Thailand. In February 2026, the company facilitated a joint training workshop at KOSEN-KMITL in Thailand, which saw the participation of four students from Tokuyama Technical College. Observing the students' engagement and enthusiasm during this training inspired Tokuyama’s faculty to request a similar workshop at their institution, paving the way for this collaborative effort.

The workshop featured alumni from the previous Thai program participating as facilitators, thus enabling a valuable transfer of learning. Tokuyama Technical College has been focusing on nurturing globally competent engineers, integrating STEAM subjects into their curriculum, and emphasizing international collaboration as part of their education strategy.

Workshop Overview

The recent workshop included a total of 25 participants comprised of members from FourDigit and three participants from the KOSEN-KMITL workshop. This group engaged 12 students (ranging from second to fifth year) and seven faculty members in a robust service design process. The theme of the workshop was "Elderly Care," where students were required to develop personas, create customer journey maps, extract key issues, analyze potential services, craft scenarios, and deliver presentations—all accomplished over just three days.

On June 5, a Faculty Development (FD) seminar was also conducted for the attending faculty members, focusing on the relevance of design thinking and service design in the digital age. About 50 educators participated, highlighting the commitment to continuous improvement in teaching methodologies.

MOU Signing and Future Prospects

The recently established MOU is a pivotal step in setting up a sustained cooperative framework between FourDigit and Tokuyama Technical College. Future plans include structuring a mentoring system whereby workshop alumni can guide new participants, creating a circular learning environment. Moreover, there are ambitions to expand this model by collaborating with international technical colleges, including partnerships with institutions in Thailand.

Insights from Tokuyama Technical College's Leadership

Abe Satoshi, President of Tokuyama Technical College, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating that it aims to enhance educational activities significantly. The three-day service design program provided students with a comprehensive understanding, from identifying customer needs to developing user experiences and even constructing business models. The interactive nature of the program encouraged students to actively brainstorm ideas and deeply engage with problem-solving processes.

This was further emphasized by the participation of former students who previously graduated from the Thai workshop, as they now took the role of facilitators, showcasing their development from learners to teachers. The synergy created through these international exchanges underscores the college’s commitment to fostering a robust educational foundation equipped for the global landscape.

FourDigit's Perspective

Takuji Ryo, President of FourDigit, remarked on the significance of offering their service design program at Tokuyama Technical College after its prior success in Thailand. He noted the exceptional dedication of students who maintained their focus despite having just completed their final exams. The support from faculty was vital, ensuring the students successfully presented their findings at the end of the program.

Through this initiative, students learned the invaluable skill of tackling ambiguous problems, a critical necessity in today's job market where straightforward solutions are often elusive. This experience is meant to broaden their perspectives on the importance of communication and collaboration in professional settings, encouraging them to enjoy the process of working with others to create impactful solutions.

The Challenges Addressed

The digital economy in Southeast Asia is rapidly evolving, yet there remains a significant gap in skilled design professionals, creating educational challenges. Across the design sector, there's a pressing need for integrated skills that unify business acumen with technical expertise. Consequently, companies experience difficulties in sourcing quality talent, resulting in higher training expenses post-hire.

To address these challenges, FourDigit has been leveraging its partnerships to streamline skills development in design, focusing on enhancing educational programs. By 2025, they aim to provide design training at six universities, showcasing a long-term commitment to cultivating a robust talent pipeline.

In addition to educational pursuits, FourDigit is engaged in various projects, including efforts in Okinawa, which link local problem-solving with advancements in digital design, further solidifying their dedication to creating a talented workforce capable of driving innovation.

Conclusion

The MOU and subsequent workshops signify a promising leap toward melding education with real-world applications in design, shaping the engineers of tomorrow who are prepared to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world.