ATOMica Launches Entrepreneurial Learning Program for High School Students in Komaki City

ATOMica Launches Entrepreneurial Learning Program for High School Students

Overview of the Program
ATOMica, a social coworking startup headquartered in Miyazaki, Japan, is partnering with the city of Komaki to introduce an entrepreneurial learning initiative. This program, designed for high school students, aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. Scheduled for August 6, 7, and 20, 2025, the program aligns with Komaki's 70th anniversary celebrations.

The program consists of three key steps: self-analysis, entrepreneurial experience, and a final presentation of results. Six successful entrepreneurs will be participating, serving as mentors to guide students throughout their entrepreneurial journey. Even students who are not currently inclined towards starting their business will benefit, as the program aims to naturally inspire them to consider entrepreneurship as a viable option, thereby broadening their future possibilities.

On the final day of the program, a presentation event will be held at the STATION Ai Hall in Nagoya, where participating students will share their learnings and insights gained over the three days.

Context for Implementation

The shift towards inquiry-based learning has gained momentum, particularly since the fiscal year 2022, when comprehensive inquiry time became a mandatory part of high school education. Students across Japan are now actively engaged in setting problems, research, and presentations. Additionally, more universities are adopting the comprehensive selection admission system, evaluating students on their inquiry motivation and commitment to learning. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, there will be 670 institutions utilizing this system in the 2024 academic year, allowing over 98,520 students admission through it. This trend strongly indicates a growing societal commitment to nurturing children’s inquiry abilities and their learning attitudes.

However, challenges have emerged within educational institutions regarding the guidance system and teacher workloads. A study by Recruit Advancement Institute found that 82% of high schools face significant burdens on teachers as a major issue related to comprehensive inquiry time. This highlights the difficulties of supporting inquiry within limited school resources, making initiatives like ATOMica's program even more essential.

ATOMica’s Commitment

In light of these challenges, ATOMica has been actively offering inquiry-based programs focused on entrepreneurship and regional issue-solving, effectively connecting students' learning to real-world applications. This upcoming entrepreneurial learning program is a continuation of such initiatives that leverage their experiences. It aims to present entrepreneurship not as an extraordinary endeavor but as something achievable and relatable for students who may not yet have a clear intention to start a business.