Student club embraces international collaboration as MIRAI Consortium launches new website

International university collaboration is not limited to researchers—it also thrives on contributions from students. At Kyushu University, the student programming club “GLEAP” has redesigned the website for the Japan-Sweden University Collaboration Consortium, “MIRAI.” This cross-border project, led entirely by students—from concept and design to implementation—became a story of challenge and growth.

MIRAI: its role and challenges

Launched in 2017, "MIRAI" is an international consortium connecting Japanese and Swedish universities to advance research, education, and innovation. Since 2024, Kyushu University has served as the Japanese coordinating university, responsible for information sharing and network building.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the importance of online engagement has grown significantly, and calls for a more user-friendly and visually appealing website have increased both within and outside the consortium. In response to this need, the initiative to redesign the website together with students was launched in 2024.

Student-led innovation

The project partner is GLEAP, Kyushu University’s programming club, committed to fostering globally competitive IT talent. The club includes about 130 students who hone their skills through hackathons, and ten of them joined the initiative, working from spring through fall 2025. They handled everything—from concept and design to implementation—while overcoming challenges such as communicating in English, managing time zone differences, and bridging cultural gaps.

GLEAP members who participated in this project shared the following feedback:
"We sometimes struggled with English communication and cultural differences, but teamwork helped us achieve our goals. We hope MIRAI's activities continue to expand."

This was more than a website redesign—it was an ‘innovation initiative’ that offered students hands-on experience in international collaboration. The MIRAI Consortium and GLEAP signed a formal contract to ensure fair evaluation of student skills and compensation. The new website has been highly praised by consortium members for both its design and functionality.

This project serves as an excellent example demonstrating students' potential to thrive on the international stage. Kyushu University, a member of the MIRAI Consortium, will further promote creating opportunities to contribute to international expansion alongside the next generation of students, building on this valuable experience.

Link

MIRAI