Student Club Fosters International Collaboration with New MIRAI Consortium Website Launch at Kyushu University
At Kyushu University, international collaboration among universities has expanded to include significant contributions from students through the efforts of the student programming club GLEAP. The club has recently completed the redesign of the website for the Japan-Sweden University Collaboration Consortium, known as MIRAI. This fully student-led initiative involved participants in various aspects, from concept development to design and implementation, marking an opportunity for growth and skill enhancement.
Overview of the MIRAI Consortium
Founded in 2017, the MIRAI consortium aims to strengthen research, education, and innovation between Japanese and Swedish universities. Since 2024, Kyushu University has assumed the role of the coordinating institution for Japan, emphasizing the importance of information sharing and network expansion.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 underscored the need for improved online engagement, resulting in an increased demand for a more user-friendly and visually appealing website. In response to this need, Kyushu University launched a project to redesign the MIRAI website in collaboration with students in 2024.
Student-Driven Innovation
GLEAP, which consists of approximately 130 students focused on developing their global IT skills through various programming challenges, played a central role in this project. A dedicated team of ten club members worked on the initiative from spring to fall 2025, handling tasks that included conceptualization, design, and execution. The team encountered challenges such as communication barriers in English, differing time zones, and cultural variations.
Team members reflected on their experiences, noting the difficulties faced in communication and cultural differences while emphasizing the importance of teamwork in achieving project goals. They expressed a desire for the continued growth of MIRAI’s activities.
This project extended beyond a mere website redesign; it was an “innovation initiative” that equipped participants with practical experience in international collaboration. The partnership between MIRAI Consortium and GLEAP was formalized through a contract, which ensured that student contributions were appropriately recognized and compensated. The newly launched website has received favorable feedback from consortium members regarding its design and usability.
This initiative illustrates the capacity of students to make significant contributions on an international level. Looking ahead, Kyushu University, as a member of the MIRAI Consortium, aims to provide students with increased opportunities for engagement in international collaboration, thereby leveraging the valuable experiences gained through projects like this.
(Source: Kyushu University)
