Online Exchange with Overseas Universities 2025-2026

日本語ページはこちら（Japanese）

In order to further build ”international cooperation in consumer policy,” Tokushima Prefecture has been holding a student-led online exchange (presentations and discussions) between universities in the prefecture and overseas universities since FY2021.

For fiscal year 2025, we held an online exchange meeting with the theme “Practicing Ethical Consumption for a Sustainable Future ～From ’Declaration’ to ’Recommendation’～,” with the goal of making recommendations to the national government, local governments, businesses, etc. regarding relevant issues that individuals and society should address.

Representatives from each university delivered presentations regarding the handbooks they developed in FY2024 at the Global Youth Session of the International Consumer’s Symposium in Tokushima.

Click here to view the events of the day on the official website of the International Consumer’s Symposium in Tokushima.
 

The participating schools gave presentations and exchanged opinions, connecting the physical venue in the prefecture with those overseas, online.
Each university shared examples of ethical consumption initiatives they are undertaking in their respective schools/countries. These included a variety of activities, such as bringing your own bottle/containers, displaying stickers encouraging energy conservation, distributing handbooks, conducting surveys in regions with limited food access, promoting the use of color-coded trash bins, and composting food waste. However, challenges to promoting ethical consumption were raised, including low general awareness and a lack of human resources to support ongoing activities.
During the discussion, participants dug deeper into the initiatives implemented by each school and raised questions based on a common concern among participants, such as “How do you take the first step toward purchasing ethical products?” The response was, “Choosing ethical products is an expression of your own values. If you think about it as consideration for various global issues, it’s easier to get into.”
Based on the learning and insights gained through this exchange, the participating schools are now set to work on making policy recommendations for the national government, local governments, businesses, and other organizations.

Based on the knowledge and insights gained through the exchange meeting held in July, the participating universities worked on developing policy recommendations for the national government. The policy recommendations created by the participating universities within the prefecture were compiled into a single document and handed over to the Commissioner of the CAA. On the same day, an opinion exchange was also held with officials from the CAA.

Representing the participating universities within the prefecture, a student from Naruto University of Education handed the recommendation document to Ms. Natsuko Horii, Commissioner of the CAA. The following is an overview of the comments provided by Commissioner Horii:

“I believe it is extremely important that the discussions so far have been compiled into more concrete policy recommendations. In promoting ethical consumption, which is the core of these recommendations, the most vital aspects are to treat the issues as a personal matter and practice ethical consumption in daily life. Furthermore, each of us remains a consumer throughout our lives. Beyond the practice of ethical consumption, I hope that young people such as yourselves develop the sensitivity to proactively seek out information to protect the safety and security of your daily lives. I hope that through today’s opinion exchange with CAA officials and the experience of making these recommendations, you can take the mindset of an independent consumer back to your respective universities and local communities.”

Following the formal document handover, the Head of the Consumer Education Promotion Division of the CAA and other officials involved in policy formation attended a session for the presentation of recommendations and an opinion exchange with the students, which featured the following themes:

The CAA evaluated the students’ presentations, stating that they were well-researched and contained many useful ideas. They also provided advice on each university’s recommendations and comments on future expectations.

Additionally, there was a mutual exchange of questions between the students and the CAA. When a student asked about “grasping the actual state of discarded emergency food stockpiles held by businesses” as mentioned in the Basic Policy for Promoting Food Loss Reduction, the Agency explained how disaster preparedness stockpiles are utilized within the Agency. It was explained that the relevant department accurately tracks and manages the quantities and expiration dates of disaster preparedness stockpile items. For stockpile food approaching its expiration date, a “Declaration of Non-use” (the procedure to end its treatment as a stockpile item) is made before the date passes. The food is then donated to food banks by the food waste department, ensuring that the items are put to effective use rather than thrown away.

The advisor and coordinator for this project offered the following comments:

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone at the Consumer Affairs Agency for their cooperation during this visit.

Please take a look at the recommendations created by the students of each university.

※ All information in the published materials (text, photographs, illustrations, etc.) may NOT be reproduced, reused, or sold without the permission of Tokushima Prefecture and the respective universities that created them, except in cases permitted by copyright law, such as “reproduction for personal use” or “quotation.”
 

Since FY2021, Tokushima Prefecture has been conducting this online program between universities in Tokushima Prefecture and overseas universities, where students can exchange opinions on consumer education and present them, in order to further strengthen ”international cooperation in consumer policy.”