国際協働で村の活性化を!行動するエンジニア
Revitalizing the region through international collaboration! Engineers in Action
2024年8月に大阪工業大学国際交流センターと国立台湾科技大学のEiA(Engineers in Action)チームが行った国際PBL(Project Based Learning)では、初めて地域創成問題を取り上げ、奈良県川上村の地域資源を生かして「環境に優しい石けんづくりとろ過実験」をテーマにワークショップを源流分校(旧川上東小学校)で実施しました。参加学生のリーダーは4月から川上村を複数回訪れて、石けんに混ぜる素材として現地で調達できる桜の花びらや、スギ・ヒノキのおがくず、廃材を収集。両校のメンバーを石けん試作、3D成形、パッケージデザイン、広報の各チームに分け、8月合同研修本番まで意見交換を繰り返し、サンプル試作、地元住民への広報など準備を行いました。ワークショップには地元の小学生と保護者や、川上村への移住を検討し見学ツアーに参加された家族など約30人が集い、川上村の自然の恵を再認識するとともに、住民自身がどこでも調達できる材料と簡単な知識・工夫だけで水汚染問題などの解決に資する生活の知恵を学ぶきっかけとなりました。
2025年以降も地域資源と工学の知見を生かしたものづくりをテーマに持続可能な方法で地域創成に役立つ活動を展開していきます。
In August 2024, The EiA (Engineers in Action) team of Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT) International Center and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) conducted a joint international PBL (Project-Based Learning) program. For the first time, the program addressed regional revitalization issues and held a workshop at the OIT seminar house (former Kawakami East Elementary School) in Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture. The workshop focused on "eco-friendly soap making and filtration experiments" utilizing local resources.
OIT student leaders visited Kawakami Village multiple times starting in April to collect locally available materials, such as cherry blossom petals, cedar and cypress sawdust, and recycled wood, to be used in the soap. The members from both universities were divided into teams responsible for soap prototyping, 3D molding, package design, and public relations. They engaged in repeated discussions, created sample products, and promoted the project to local residents in preparation for the joint training session in August.
Approximately 30 participants, including local elementary school students, their parents, and families considering relocating to Kawakami Village as part of a guided tour, joined the workshop. The event not only reaffirmed the natural richness of Kawakami Village but also provided an opportunity for residents to learn simple, practical solutions to environmental issues like water pollution using readily available materials and basic knowledge.
Beyond 2025, we will continue to develop sustainable initiatives that contribute to regional revitalization by leveraging local resources and engineering expertise in manufacturing.