The University of Osaka Symposium: “Learning about the SDGs Changes the World: Education and Practice for Engaging People in Social Issues” Held

On December 4, 2025, the UOsaka Symposium "Learning about the SDGs Changes the World: Education and Practice for Engaging People in Social Issues" was held in a hybrid format at Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka Prefectural International Convention Center) and online.

The symposium was organized by the OU-SDGs Program of the Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences and co-hosted by the UOsaka Social Solution Initiative and was attended by 63 participants on-site (including speakers and staff) and 42 online participants, totaling 105 attendees. Participants included faculty and staff from universities and high schools, students, representatives from industry, government, and academia, as well as members of the general public.

In the first part of the event, following a university lecture by the university's Senior Executive Vice President Toshihiro Tanaka, Yoshikazu Kawana of Rakuten Group, Inc. (a partner organization of the OU-SDGs Program), delivered a lecture titled "What is Now Required of Human Resources to Achieve a Sustainable Society?", and Sho Fukuda of Pasona Group, Inc., then gave a lecture entitled "Regional Revitalization and SDGs to be Realized on Awaji Island." Additionally, students who completed the 2024 OU-SDGs Program gave presentations to share what they learned in the program and their future aspirations. (Student presenters: Honami Nakamori, School of Human Sciences; Nguyen Phuong Ly, School of Economics)

The second part featured a panel discussion with Akemi Aota (Pasona Group Inc.), Yoshikazu Kawana (Rakuten Group Inc.), Takuo Dome (Director, Social Solutions Initiative, Osaka University), and Nguyen Phuong Ly (School of Economics) as panelists. They engaged in a lively discussion on "Education and Practice for Engaging People in Social Issues,” responding to questions and comments from the audience.

In the third part, the student presentation session, a total of eight student groups presented their ideas and reports on initiatives and activities aimed at realizing a sustainable society, showcasing creative efforts through a wide range of approaches.
(Presenters: Taisei Umezawa (Graduate School of Humanities), Kai Manabe (School of Economics), Haruna Ogata (School of Letters), Chihaya Saiki (School of Economics), Aoi Mori (School of Foreign Studies), Kousei Shibasaki (School of Engineering), Akito Nishiyama (School of Economics), Mirai Ebisui (School of Human Sciences), Aiko Kasasuishii (United Graduate School of Child Development), Taketo Kunugita (Graduate School of Engineering), Lual Phanom Gach Deng (Graduate School of Engineering Science), and Petrash Diana (Graduate School of Engineering))

The fourth part featured a special lecture titled "Learning with and from each other for a better future – the SDG Campus," delivered online by Sönke Knutzen of Hamburg University of Technology in Germany. The lecture was live-streamed with simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation. A wide variety of opinions and questions were raised by participants, including university faculty members and students, leading to a lively, cross-border discussion on education and practice for engaging people in social issues.

The OU-SDGs Program of the Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences will continue to provide opportunities for learning and dialogue that encourage people to consider the SDGs and related social issues that concern them personally and to translate that awareness into action.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated.

Related Links:
The UOsaka OU-SDGs Program｜The University of Osaka Symposium: “Learning about the SDGs Changes the World: Education and Practice for Engaging People in Social Issues” Held
https://ou-sdgs.celas.osaka-u.ac.jp/report/1464/
Symposium Information Page
https://ou-sdgs.celas.osaka-u.ac.jp/event/1306/