INTL_Hospitality University brochure

First page 1 Next page Last page

Hospitality University in Kitakyushu and UW-Stout

Hospitality University in KITAKYUSHU NPO Asia Environmental Technology Promotion Institute

CONTENTS

1. U.S.-Japan Hospitality Management Summit: Starting Point for the Project 2. Why a Hospitality University 3. Message from Kozo Yamamoto: An Urgent Challenge for the Tourism Industry and Regional Revitalization 4. Vision of the University of Wisconsin-Stout Japan Site 5. Conclusion of Tripartite Agreement on a Feasibility Study for the University of Wisconsin-Stout Japan Site 6. Message from Kitakyushu Leadership 7. Message from University of Wisconsin-Stout Leadership 8. Leader in Hospitality Education Excellence: University of Wisconsin-Stout 9. Message from Kiyohiko Toyama (former finance minister) on University of Wisconsin-Stout Japan Site 10. Why Kitakyushu is the Ideal Place for Establishing the University Site 11. Proposed Site for the Hospitality University: Moji Ward 12. Voices from Asia on a Hospitality University in Kitakyushu

U.S.-JAPAN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT SUMMIT STARTING POINT FOR THE PROJECT In October 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, American Chamber of Commerce, Japanese government, and the Tourism Agency jointly hosted the first US-Japan Hospitality Summit in Tokyo and Osaka. Supported by Mr. Kozo Yamamoto, member of the House of Representatives, the purpose of the Summit was to seek solutions to address the workforce capacity and development needs within the hospitality sector to help grow inbound tourism to Japan. On the U.S. side, government officials and hospitality specialists from six leading universities attended, including the University of Wisconsin-Stout and the University of Nevada- Las Vegas. Japanese participants included government officials from the Tourism Agency, as well as academic and industry leaders in the hospitality field.

Photo: Kokura castle in Kitakyushu, Japan.

WHY A HOSPITALITY UNIVERSITY

To Achieve 60 Million Annual Visitors to Japan Tourism comprises approximately 5% of the Japanese GDP 1 and has a significant impact on the country’s economy. Declared a ‘Tourism-Oriented County’ in 2003 by the Japanese government, work continues toward the goal of welcoming 60 million inbound tourists annually by 2030. To this end, the number of tourism related programs and university departments have experienced considerable growth. As of April 2019, there are 47 universities, 47 faculties, and 50 departments teaching tourism. 2 As Japanese tourism continues to modernize, globalize, and localize, the industry requires highly skilled managers and leaders with hospitality experience. The Tourism Agency reports that relatively few tourism graduates are workforce ready, as current programs emphasize theory over practice. Few tourism graduates enter the tourism industry, but even those who do are unlikely to be retained for long.* The industry urgently needs skilled professionals with knowledge and hands-on experience in anticipation of the post-pandemic tourism boom. An industry-informed hospitality curriculum and applied learning approach will address these challenges. Moreover, there is a need for hospitality professionals in emerging economies throughout Southeast Asia as tourism expands and new hotels open. Japan is ideally situated to contribute to the development of the region by educating international hospitality professionals.. National & Global Demand for a Professionally Trained Hospitality Workforce

More World-class Hotels and Resorts to Open The Japanese government is promoting the opening of world-class hotels and integrated resorts as part of its economic revitalization and tourism-oriented strategies. The education of a skilled hospitality workforce aligns perfectly with these goals World-class Hospitality Education by Advanced U.S. University Eight of the world’s top 10 hospitality schools are in the U.S., providing highly skilled talent for the renowned U.S. hospitality industry. A leading U.S. hospitality university would offer well-experienced teaching faculty, a practical, hands-on education and a customized curriculum to meet the unique local needs in Japan. Regional Revitalization and Industry-Government-Academia alignment This project would help drive revitalization not only for the region’s tourism but also for the economy, the community, and the arts by promoting a collaborative curriculum aligned with policy proposals in partnership with the local administration and the private sector. It also provides opportunity for continuing education within the community. Location as a Global Academic Crossroads Students from many nations, representing diverse languages and cultures, would contribute to a thriving, inclusive campus environment, and provide practical (real- world) opportunities for students to experience the diversity of the global tourism workplace. This practical global curriculum would make our university the most advanced in the world. Our university would also promote exchange program’s with other academic institutions in and out of Japan.

* ‘Professional human resource educating working group by academic-industry partnership

MESSAGE FROM KOZO YAMAMOTO: AN URGENT CHALLENGE FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND REGIONAL REVITALIZATION

Mr. Kozo Yamamoto, member of the House of the Representatives and former Minister for Regional Revitalization, proposes to host hospitality University in Kitakyushu.

University education is requested to urgently develop the curriculum to meet these needs. The curriculum should develop management, finance, and IT literacy, as well as global business skills, such as high language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding. Regional revitalization will be another critical component in the curriculum, through exploration of the development of both traditional and less traditional (“off the beaten path”) opportunities to fully realize a tourism-focused nation. The most effective way to overcome these challenges is to welcome a U.S. hospitality education, regarded as the best in the world, given American higher education’s extensive experience and achievement in this discipline. I myself studied at Cornell University Business School and strongly understand the importance of the tourism industry and have always prioritized Japan’s tourism development as one of my political challenges. This understanding has led me today to propose inviting the University of Wisconsin--Stout, one of the leading hospitality program’s in U.S., to offer its degree program in Kitakyushu. A full-fledged hospitality university in Kitakyushu would attract students from Japan, Southeast Asia, and throughout the world. I am convinced that this would enormously benefit Kitakyushu economically, socially, and culturally. I am dedicated to move forward with this project and would greatly appreciate your understanding and support.

Kozo Yamamoto - Member of the House of the Representatives Former Minister for Regional Revitalization

In 2003, the Japanese government announced its commitment to be a tourism- oriented country. The Tourism Agency was established in 2008 and the number of inbound visitors drastically increased from 8.35 million in 2008 to 31.88 million in 2019. The economic impact rose to 4 trillion 811.3 billion yen, increasing for seven consecutive years. However, we still face a number of challenges to achieve the government objective of 60 million visitors in 2030. One of the most critical challenges is the development of human resources. Tourism education provided by Japanese universities has not sufficiently risen to the demand from industry. Meanwhile the tourism industry is now going through drastic changes. Inbound tourists visit Japan more for diversified purposes than in the past, including personalized tours, experience-oriented tours, etc. This requires the industry to offer further diversified and specialized services. In addition, the development of digital technology elevates the importance of online data processing and analysis of big data for tourism promotion.

Classrooms Estimated Academic Facilities Planning (UW-Stout Japan Project Team). FACILITY NEEDS

Academic Facilities

Phase/Year 1

Phase/Year 3

Phase/Year 5

Name

Capacity

Sq. Ft.

# of Rooms Total Sq. Ft.

Food Lab

10,000

30,000

Large Lecture

120

2,600

Flexible Lecture

900

1,800

2,700

Tech Enhanced

1,100

2,200

3,300

Discussion

1,100

2,200

4,400

Small Flexible

750

1,500

2,250

Collaboration

550

1,100

Study Room

150

750

1,350

Huddle Space

200

600

1,000

Faculty Space

120

960

4,320

6,600

Acad. Reception

1,000

Cafe

4,500

Total Rooms

Total Square Feet

15,960

52,020

60,800

Academic Facilities

Phase/Year 1

Phase/Year 3

Phase/Year 5

Academic Needs

15,960

52,020

60,800

Administrative Needs

5,625

8,040

8,160

Support Space**

6,475.5

18,018

20,688

Total Square Ft

28,060.5

78,078

89,648

**30% added to classroom/office space for new build

Additional facility needs worth consideration: • Residential housing or a local partnership • On-campus dining • Student activity spaces (student center; sports complex; etc.)

I appreciate that the University of Wisconsin-Stout has decided to conduct a feasibility study to open a Japan campus in order to educate highly trained hospitality professionals. The establishment of a new university will contribute toward population growth and revitalization. I am looking forward to seeing the results of the study.

Ken-ichiro Takagi - Chairman of the Kitakyushu City Assembly

The University of Wisconsin--Stout, which educates hospitality professionals, will conduct a feasibility study in our city for the establishment of a Japan presence. This is more than welcome. The opening of the Japan presence would surely make a material contribution to the regional revitalization of our city that is abundant in touristic attractions. I expect the study to be conducted successfully so that the project and its benefits to the city and the region will soon be realized.

MESSAGE FROM KITAKYUSHU LEADERSHIP

Koji Toshijima - Chairman of the Kitakyushu Chamber of Commerce & Industry

An agreement was made to conduct a feasibility study for the University of Wisconsin-Stout to establish a Japan presence in Kitakyushu. The University of Wisconsin-Stout provides a practical “hands-on” hospitality education. Kitakyushu welcomes this enterprise since it would contribute to the revitalization of the city by drawing a youthful population to the area to study and stimulate the local economy. I am ready to offer my utmost cooperation for the feasibility study.

Kenji Kitahashi - Mayor of the City of Kitakyushu

Photo: Government and bank building in Kitakyushu, Japan.

MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT LEADERSHIP

“As Wisconsin’s only Polytechnic university, our mission is to prepare students for careers through applied learning and research, professional experiences, and collaborative partnerships to benefit a global society. The partnership with the City of Kitakyushu is an outstanding representation of UW-Stout’s mission in action, and provides an amazing, global opportunity for our university and students.“

Dr. Katherine P. Frank - Chancellor

“As Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, it is truly exciting to embark on this partnership with Japan. This applied learning endeavor aligns with our FOCUS2030 Strategic Plan goal of student success and our vision to advance UW-Stout’s position as a future-focused polytechnic university and international leader in higher education.”

Glendali Rodriguez - Interim Provost

MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT

BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF KITAKYUSHU HOSPITALITY UNIVERSITY IN JAPAN The University of Wisconsin-Stout is eager to collaborate with the City of Kitakyushu, hospitality industry, local and national leaders, and the Japanese national government in the implementation of this shared vision outlined below: • Offer professional training and meet workforce development needs to assist Japan in realizing its national policy goal of reaching 60 million inbound visitors by 2030; • Revitalize of the local economy as a workforce development epicenter that prepares industry-ready professionals; and • Establish a roadmap for successful industry-higher education collaborations that can be replicated throughout the nation. • Advance UW-Stout’s position as a future-focused polytechnic international leader in higher education;

JAPAN PROJECT TEAM

The University of Wisconsin-Stout participated in the 2019 U.S.-Japan Hospitality Summit in Tokyo and Osaka, coordinated by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and U.S. Commercial Services, along with Japan’s Tourism Agency and the Ministry of Education and Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, through the efforts of the House of Representatives legislator Kozo Yamamoto. In line with the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s 2030 strategic vision, offering our hospitality leadership degree in Kitakyushu, Japan provides an incredible opportunity to showcase our future-focused Polytechnic approach of integrating industry with applied learning to develop a globally prepared workforce.

“We are excited to showcase Japan and its citizens as the most welcoming and hospitable society and people to the world and are eager to see our graduates succeed globally as the next generation of hospitality leaders.”

Dr. Maria Alm - Interim Dean, College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences

“UW-Stout’s polytechnic approach of intertwining hands-on applied learning, industry collaboration, and the liberal arts will surely create a transformational hospitality education experience for the people in Japan.”

Dr. Eric Brey - Professor and Department Chair, School of Hospitality Leadership

“The global hospitality university in Kitakyushu will revitalize the economy, bring the world to Japan and Japan to the world.”

Scott Pierson - Director of International Education

LEADERS IN HOSPITALITY EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT

UW-Stout is the State of Wisconsin’s comprehensive, career-focused polytechnic university. Over 9,500 students, faculty and staff use applied learning, scientific theory, and research to solve real-world problems, grow the state’s economy, and serve a global society. Only 3% of universities in the United States share the polytechnic designation, and our unique approach to learning and practice through industry collaboration has proven successful in meeting workforce development needs; 97.8% of our graduates are employed or continue their education at a higher education level within six months of graduation. School of Hospitality Leadership The School of Hospitality Leadership has consistently been at the forefront of hospitality education excellence. In 2017, CEOWorld Magazine ranked UW-Stout’s Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program #8 in the world for “Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools.”

and contemporary insights that will be instrumental throughout their careers. With an uncompromising focus on the future needs of industry and an unwavering dedication to student success, the School of Hospitality Leadership is uniquely positioned to educate future leaders on what it takes to manage organizations in the hospitality industry. Our faculty use proven educational methods to provide a multifaceted, stimulating, and challenging educational experience to help propel students to the forefront of their respective industries. Our unique program’s have been designed to help students build management skills and develop the crucial abilities needed for industry leaders. By leveraging course activities that focus on real-life examples and challenges within industry, our focus on applied learning provides a foundation for achieving success in the hospitality businesses of tomorrow. To create a learning environment that inspires the next generation of leaders, we provide a platform for the establishment of unique connections to industry that foster opportunities for our students and stakeholders.

By combining a rigorous curriculum with an award-winning student-focused culture to deliver a quality education, learners are exposed to traditional building blocks

Full View of UW-Stout

UW-Stout in Winter

Full View of UW-Stout

WHY KITAKYUSHU IS IDEAL PLACE FOR ESTABLISHING UW-STOUT JAPAN GLOBAL HOSPITALITY PROGRAM

A Major City in Western Japan Kitakyushu, facing the Kanmon channel, was developed as a gateway city to the western part of Japan and to the Kyushu. In the postwar period, the city lead the country’s economic growth with its steel industry. The city is administratively independent from the prefecture as one of the government-ordinance designated cities.

Advantageous Transportation System • The only 24-hour operated Airport in Kyushu

The Kitakyushu Airport is equipped with a 2500 meter runway, which is to be extended 3000 meter in the near future. It is located a 30-minute (approximately) drive from the city center. This is the only 24-hour operation in Kyushu, both for domestic and international flights to Korea, Taiwan, and China. • Every Shinkansen Service Stops at Kitakyushu Every Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stops at the Kokura Station, Kitakyushu’s terminal station. The Shinkansen takes two hours and a half to Osaka, and approximately five hours to Tokyo. • Well-Structured Road Network Three high-graded trunk roads run from Kitakyushu to destinations out of the Prefecture. Inside the city runs the Urban Express Way. Kitakyushu is one of the nation’s six cities that has urban express motorways besides Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. Star Flyer Airline The air carrier Star Flyer is headquartered in Kitakyushu. Star Flyer’s fleet has the longest seat pitch among all the economy class airlines of the world. In Japan, Star Flyer has been awarded the highest passenger satisfaction airline for nine consecutive years.

Major National Corporations in Kitakyushu A number of Japan’s leading corporations are headquartered in

Kitakyushu, including TOTO Ltd., a ceramic product manufacturer, Yasukawa Electric Corp., an industrial robot manufacturer, Takagi, a water cleaner manufacturer, and Zenrin Co. Ltd., a map publisher, etc. Designated a FutureCity Kitakyushu has overcome a challenging problem regarding pollution resulting from a fall-out of heavy chemicals due to industrial development aggravated in 1960’s. This history made Kitakyushu an environment-conscious city and the government designated it as a FutureCity. It has made an aggressive commitment and technical assistance to other Asian countries; for instance, Kitakyushu assisted a water filtration plant project in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Ideal Living Environment Kitakyushu is a city with urban and rural features both of which are well-balanced. It is reputed for its state-of-the-art measures to environmental conservation. It has been ranked by NPO Egalite No. 1 as a governmental ordinance-designated city for generativity for eight consecutive years. The average rent is less than half of that in Tokyo and this makes Kitakyushu a student friendly city.

MESSAGE FROM KIYOHIKO TOYAMA (FORMER VICE FINANCE MINISTER) ON UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT JAPAN

Kitakyushu to be the capital of global hospitality education Kitakyushu is beginning to move forward and invites the University of Wisconsin- Stout to open its Japan campus. I am so delighted and firmly committed to make my best contribution to realize this project leveraging my extensive experience in tourism promotion and regional revitalization. The Japanese word tourism is spelled with two Chinese characters that are ‘to see’ and ‘light’. Japan has many various lights that tourists from all over the world long to see, evinced by the fact that some tens of millions of inbound tourists have visited Japan annually over the past years. Japan offers visitors globally appreciated fine cuisine and sake, culture, art, breathtaking landscapes, onsens (hot spas), quality accommodations, anime (cartoon film) and movies, fashion, etc. In addition, well-maintained public peace and the spirit of hospitality are what we are proud to offer tourists from overseas COVID-19 has catastrophically hit the world tourism industry since last year; however, I am more than convinced that the tourism industry will never die. The revenue generated for the Japanese economy by the industry can more than double what it has been in the past and reach 10 trillion+ Japanese yen in the future. Today the Japanese tourism industry desperately needs to educate a world-class multilingual workforce characterized by professional knowledge and skills. World- class hospitality is one of the advantages that Japan tourism has to offer to inbound tourists, and it makes sense to have the tourism education center in Kitakyushu to take full advantage of this opportunity.

In Japan’s modern history, Kitakyushu has been the significant hub of both human and material exchange in Western Japan. It is connected with major destinations by land, sea, and air. It is also globally reputed for its environmental commitment. Now is the time to make Kitakyushu further grow as the center to foster global tourism professionals.

CITY OF KITAKYUSHU

TOKYO (CAPITAL)

Kiyohiko Yoyama Former Vice Finance Minister President-Toyama Associates Consulting

PROPOSED SITE FOR THE HOSPITALITY UNIVERSITY: MOJI WARD

Photo: Waterfront at the Kanmon Straits, Shimonoseki, Japan.

Advantage Moji-Ward is culturally and historically gifted with touristic attractions. The city’s ferry terminal is the largest of all in the country welcoming many visitors from home and from abroad. There is no better site for a hospitality university. • Ten-Year Redevelopment Project is underway, aggressively inviting enterprises and universities. Ocean front industrial zone ‘Marina Cross Moji’ hosts approximately 100 enterprises including Toyota. • Moji-Ward is the only ward in the city that has no university and is losing its young population. The ward is enthusiastic about revitalizing efforts, including welcoming a university. • The Moji Port used to be one of the national major ports in Japan. The port has a zone with a nostalgic atmosphere of the Taisho era (1912 – 1926) that receives approximately two million visitors per year and is one of the most popular touristic sites in Kitakyushu. The Mekari Quasi National Park, located in Moji-Ward, offers beautiful landscapes to its many visitors and makes Moji-Ward a perfect place for hospitality education.

Location Moji-Ward is located on the northern tip of the Kyushu Island and connects the Island and Mainland Japan. Its area is of 73.42 km. Mojiko Station (the city’s main terminal) is a 10-minute (approximately) drive from the city center. Potential for a Cultural and Academic Area of the City While the western part of Kitakyushu represents the advanced scientific research area of the city, Moji-Ward, located in the east, has potential to develop as the academic and educational center of Kitakyushu.

Full View of Moji Port

Moji Ward Office in the center and the port

VOICES FROM ASIA ON A HOSPITALITY UNIVERSITY IN KITAKYUSHU

Photo: Wisteria shelf in Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Great Opportunity for Chinese Hospitality Students One of the things in need in economically surging countries such as those in Southeast Asia is human resources in the area of hospitality. NPO Asia Environmental Technology Promotion Institute (AEC) has long cooperated with China and Southeast Asian countries to help them accelerate economic development and environmental preservation strategies. This time the institution embarks on a plan for establishing a hospitality university which I believe will contribute not only to improving hospitality education in Asia, but also achieving the lofty mission of uniting young people in Asia. At this moment, considering the global environment around us, it might be hard to work with my country for the project including financial support and student recruitment.

“To see the world is the main reason why the tourism & hospitality sector attracts people to choose their suitable career and advance. Studying for tourism and hospitality isn’t just about travel, you can learn transferable and valuable skills such as marketing, finance, cultural awareness, skills that are important and highly required in other industries. Japan is a wonderful country to visit, I’m tempted by sushi, technology, anime,.. and all great vibes that Japan could bring. ‘’Omotenashi’’ is the term when it comes to Japanese hospitality, ‘’Omote’’ means public face and ‘’nashi’’ means nothing so in combination it is honest, no hiding, no pretending and to know about the term already given you the first lesson in hospitality- to take down your ego and provide the best service you could to make the guests feel welcomed. I would love to learn so much more in Japan.” “I am a student from Myanmar and hope to work in the hotel industry in the future. I want to study in Japan, one of the most developed countries in Asia, which is focusing on the growth of the tourism industry as a national policy to learn the knowledge and skills necessary for this in a full-fledged hospitality course at a university. I heard that a world-class university in the progressive United States would be established in Japan. If a university specializing in studying the field of hospitality is established, it will be an excellent opportunity for Myanmar students, including myself, who aspire to work in the tourism industry. It made me feel much more motivated to study in Japan.”

Công Thành 23, from Vietnam

However, with the City of Kitakyushu as a possible campus site, geographically and historically close to China, AET recognizes the enormous potential of admitting Chinese students as well as other Asians. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to study globally renowned U.S. hospitality courses while experiencing life in Japan, the country of hospitality. There will be many students wishing to come to Japan to join the courses. I would be delighted to assist in recruiting and selecting talented young Chinese people.

Myat Eaindray Nye

Hong Chong En - Special-appointment Staff Correspondent, Shanghai Wen Huì Bao

History: Asia Environmental Technology Promotion Institute (AET), established in 1992, has been mainly committed to the subject of environmental protection and improved transportation systems with a principle to prevent Asia from becoming a source of environmental pollution. Among our achievements are organization of international symposia to discuss maglev technology and environmental issues, contributions to creation of joint ventures introducing Japan’s advanced environmental technology, and aggressive commitment of technological transfer to overseas. In recent years, AET cooperated with the governments of Japan and of Myanmar to establish a general technical school in Myanmar as a part of the Japanese support to Myanmar, which was named JMVTI Aung San Project. The school aims to develop core people in the society. The school was partially opened on January 10th 2020. In this connection, AET organized symposia with the subject of industry human resource education for three consecutive years from 2015. A fruit of the symposia is the Project for Training Center for Technical Intern Trainees based on MOU with the Myanmar Labor Ministry. Three Principals: • We will work to prevent Asia from becoming a source of environmental pollution. • We will work on building a shared understanding across Asia. • We will work for the bright future for the people after 100 years from now. Mission: We are determined to work for realizing the sustainable society that coexists in harmony with the mother nature, and contributing to peace and prosperity of Asia. For that purpose, we genuinely carry out actions with help from people’s wisdom, scientific knowledge and political support deriving from soundly established partnership with the central and local governments. By extension, we would like to be a cornerstone for contributing to 21 century Asia and Japan’s national strategy.

HOSPITALITY UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF KITAKYUSHU

NPO Asia Environmental Technology Institute (3-1-4, Nihonbashi, Chuoku, Tokyo)

Tel: +81-3-3434-3433 Website: https://asiaenvirotech.com E-mail: info.m@asiaenvirotech..com

Established in January, 1992, and registered as NPO in April, 1996.

Our Institute has worked on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Japan project since 2019 under the initiative of Kozo Yamamoto, Diet member and former Cabinet Minister for Regional Revitalization.

Photo: Moji ward in Kitakyushu, Japan.

Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software