News

On Friday, August 29, the "2025 Keio SDGs Student Conference Summer Camp" was held at Hiyoshi Campus. This year marks its fourth iteration. Approximately 60 students from the elementary school level to undergraduates at Keio gathered to hold discussions on how to achieve the SDGs and the ideal vision Keio should have going forward.

The Student Conference involves Keio undergraduates selected from across all faculties attending lectures by experts, increasing their input and feedback, and discussing visions, goals, and targets in the Spring Semester. In the Fall Semester, these students discuss action plans to achieve the SDGs, and summarize their ideas and recommendations into a final proposal to be handed over to the president of Keio University. At the Summer Camp, discussions with elementary, junior high, and high school students from Keio affiliated schools generated fresh and novel ideas, as well as unexpected action plans. These proposals will be shared at the Student Conference in the Fall Semester as a lead-up to the final proposal.

Vice-President Akiyo Okuda served as moderator for the session, which began with President Kohei Itoh speaking about war and peace in relation to Goal 16: "Peace, justice and strong institutions." Professor Norichika Kanie from the Graduate School of Media and Governance, who serves as supervisor for the Student Conference, then gave a lecture on the dilemma facing a future society inhibited by global warming.

In the first round of discussions, participants were divided into four groups: "Environment," "Society," "Economy," and "Partnership," to discuss the theme of "Keio’s Vision toward 2050." After a lunch break, they proceeded with the second round of discussions in the afternoon where they considered "actions that Keio University and affiliated schools can take to achieve the goals" listed in the morning session. While the students were engaged in passionate discussions, teaching staff from each of the affiliated schools gathered in separate classrooms to discuss SDG initiatives at their respective schools and future collaboration, moderated by Professor Hiromichi Kobayashi, who serves as the project representative of the Student Conference.

At the final segment of the session, each group proposed ideas relating to the introduction of an environmental points system, revitalization of on-campus businesses, agriculture and power generation by private homes, recycling, collaboration between schools, support for international students, and so on. This was followed by a lively Q&A session among the participants. To conclude the Student Conference, teaching staff from each of the affiliated schools, Vice-President Keita Yamauchi, and finally Director Masaki Okamoto from the Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, offered their feedback regarding the day’s proceedings.

This Summer Camp, where students from the elementary school level all the way to undergraduates cooperate and work together on these issues, is unique in the world. Participants also expressed their satisfaction in post-event surveys.

This initiative will motivate students to continue learning, as it provides a space to think about the SDGs and the future of Keio University from the time they are in an affiliated school, where they subsequently go on to participate in the Student Conference as university students.