Implementation Report 2015 Technical College Women’s Forum in Tohoku

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Saturday, December 27, 12 TKP Garden City Sendai

31 junior high school girls, 41 parents, 155 business people (69 companies), 67 technical college teachers, etc.
A total of 108 people participated, including 62 female technical college students [16 presenting students, 30 observing students, and 402 managing students].

Female students from six technical colleges located in the Tohoku region gave 6 presentations in the morning to female junior high school students and their parents, and in the afternoon in the first part to companies. In addition, 38 companies made presentations introducing their initiatives for gender equality and the success of female engineers.

[Junior high school students/parents section]
First, in the morning session (session for female junior high school students and their parents), an opening ceremony was held, where Vice Principal Motomu Takeshige of Sendai National College of Technology, the representative school, talked about the significance of holding the Technical College Women's Forum, He talked about the unique feature that the students themselves make the announcements.

(1) Poster presentation by female technical college students for junior high school girls and their parents
After the opening ceremony, female junior high school students and their parents from six technical colleges in the Tohoku region used posters to present about student life and the characteristics of technical college education. We gave an easy-to-understand introduction to technical college girls who serve as role models for junior high school girls, including what they learned and grew at technical college, and their dreams for the future, along with their own experiences. In addition, he carefully answered questions from junior high school students and conveyed the appeal of technical colleges so that they could include them in their future options.
At the same time, we have set up an "Admissions Consultation Corner" staffed by teachers from each school, creating a system that can provide all the necessary information to female junior high school students aiming to enter technical colleges and their parents.

Poster presentation by female technical college students

[Corporate Department]

(2) Poster presentation by female technical college students aimed at corporate stakeholders
At the opening ceremony for the second half, Sendai National College of Technology Principal Tatsuo Uchida stated that Japan will not develop in the future without the active participation of women, and that he hopes that this forum will convey to society the high level of ability of technical college girls and contribute to local development. They expressed their hope that they would contribute to the event.
Afterwards, a poster presentation was held by female technical college students, in which they explained how female technical college students themselves grow within the unique educational system of technical colleges from the perspectives of student life, education, and research, for corporate officials and technical college faculty. I appealed to you. The presentations were made through communication, answering questions from company officials and receiving meaningful advice.

(3) Poster presentations by companies targeting female technical college students and teachers
Following this, 56 presentations were made by business people to female technical college students and technical college instructors. There was a concrete introduction to systems that support the creation of a workplace that is easy for women to work in, as well as support for employees raising children. The female students actively asked questions, a rare opportunity to hear directly from engineers and human resources personnel.

Poster presentations by company officials

(4) Workshop for female technical college students, teachers, and business personnel
As a unique initiative of this year's Women's Technical College Forum in Tohoku, we held a workshop for female technical college students, teachers, and business personnel. We attempted to form a deeper common understanding not only through poster presentations but also by exchanging opinions on career development for female engineers.
At the beginning of the workshop, Rieko Fukushima from Toshiba Corporation's Research and Development Center gave a keynote speech based on her career. Based on this, the participants were divided into multiple groups, including technical college women, business people, and technical college teachers.Each group thought about their careers in 10 years, and at the end, each group made a presentation. The female students were also able to discuss various ideas about their careers in 10 years and think more deeply about their future careers.
At the awards ceremony that followed, students were recognized for their outstanding poster presentations to business people, and at the closing ceremony, Deputy Director-General Uchiyama of the National College of Technology Headquarters gave a closing address.

(5) Kickoff meeting
At the closing ceremony, business people dispersed, but female technical college students and technical college faculty members held a kick-off meeting. The students looked back on their own growth through participation in the forum and exchanged opinions on future collaboration. During the meeting, there were many positive comments about how much they had grown, and they were looking forward to seeing the future growth of the female students who participated.

Exchange of opinions at the kick-off meeting