【Article by Department of Economics】
Taipei, Taiwan — January 2025 — National Chengchi University (NCCU) recently hosted a week-long Project-Based Learning (PjBL) program from December 28, 2024, to January 3, 2025, in collaboration with Tohoku University, Japan. This international initiative brought together students and faculty from both universities to tackle a real-world challenge: developing innovative strategies to increase inbound tourism from Taiwan to Tohoku region/Miyagi Prefecture.
This program was spearheaded by Professor Akira Hibiki from Tohoku University’s Faculty of Economics, involving 15 Tohoku students and 7 NCCU students from the Microeconomics and Environmental Economics classes at the Department of Economics and the International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES).
Throughout the week, the project students engaged in cross-cultural teamwork to conduct research and fieldwork, including a questionnaire survey in Taipei’s Central Business District and on the NCCU campus. The research aimed to gather insights from Taiwanese residents about their travel preferences, budgets and motivations for visiting Japan. The findings were used to develop business strategies aimed at boosting inbound tourism from Taiwan to Miyagi Prefecture, a region known for its cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and ongoing recovery efforts following the 2011 earthquake. To ensure a smooth and well-prepared program, the 22 project students had already begun collaborating through online group meetings starting in October 2024, where they designed their research work plans.
The program culminated in a final presentation session at NCCU on January 3rd, where students showcased their creative solutions based on their empirical analysis. Their proposals included: (a) themed travel packages tailored to Taiwanese tourists’ preferences; (b) tourist-friendly transportation solutions designed to accommodate travelers of all ages; and (c) cultural marketing campaigns to highlight Miyagi Prefecture’s unique attractions and promote the region’s distinctive experiences. Professor Hibiki and NCCU faculty members, Professors Tzu-Chin Lin (林子欽), Jennjou Chen (陳鎮洲) and Huey-Lin Lee (李慧琳), commended the students for their insightful analyses and innovative ideas. Additionally, three NCCU alumni — Yuki Ng (黃羽綺), Ivy Hu (胡羽彤) and Syukron Mamun (馬皓信) — attended the workshop presentations and provided valuable feedback to the project students, further enriching the students’ learning experience.
“This PjBL experience allows students to connect academic knowledge with practical challenges. It’s not just about learning in the classroom but applying concepts to solve real-world problems,” said Professor Hibiki, who also expressed his gratitude to NCCU’s libraries for providing excellent facilities that supported the program’s success. Professor Lee emphasized the program’s role in motivating students to deepen their understanding of key concepts and pursue impactful solutions. “We hope this program enables our social sciences students to recognize the practical applications of their disciplinary knowledge, inspiring them to master essential concepts and address real-world challenges in their fields,” said Professor Lee.
This Tohoku-NCCU PjBL program emphasized problem-solving, critical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork, while also fostering cross-cultural understanding, helping prepare students for the demands of an increasingly globalized workforce. The program's collaborative and experiential learning approach aligns well with NCCU’s mission to cultivate global-ready graduates who can tackle multidisciplinary challenges in our highly interconnected world.