Abstract:

In recent years, the rapid advancement of AI technologies and shifts in the types of talent required by society have brought educational institutions to a major turning point in both the content and methods of learning. With the arrival of the DX era, the utilization of ICT has become essential across all industrial sectors, and practical skills that integrate multiple fields—such as AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and IoT—are increasingly demanded. Furthermore, the importance of mathematics and data science education as the foundational basis for these fields has grown significantly. In response to these societal needs, Japan’s National Colleges of Technology (Kosen) launched the COMPASS5.0 project in 2022.

Within this project, our institution has focused specifically on the IoT domain. We modeled the competencies required for students to excel in IoT-related professions from six perspectives and incorporated them into a systematic educational curriculum and practical training resources.

These competencies include:
(1) communication skills to appropriately capture user insights;
(2) sensitivity to understand the intrinsic value of user needs and to empathize and respond creatively;
(3) the ability to closely observe contexts where information is generated and to independently reflect on the essence of data utilization;
(4) value co-creation skills to collaboratively generate new value with users;
(5) practical technical skills in manufacturing, programming, and specialized engineering fields; and
(6) foundational knowledge and discussion abilities necessary for collaborating with domain experts.

To cultivate these competencies comprehensively, we implemented a new curriculum that integrates problem-based learning (PBL) and hands-on exercises using IoT devices. This tiered learning program targets students aged 15 to 20 and emphasizes experiential learning across the full spectrum of user understanding, prototyping, and value creation.

This paper reports on our institution’s initiatives conducted under the COMPASS5.0 project from 2022 to the present. It outlines the educational design process, describes the instructional materials developed, and analyzes changes in learner achievement and learning behaviors. Additionally, it presents the establishment of practical learning environments through collaborations with companies and local governments. Through these findings, the paper discusses the potential of Kosen education in cultivating future technology talent aligned with the vision of Society 5.0.

Keywords:

IoT, Curriculum, KOSEN.