Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan

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First offered in Spring 2020, Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan is an online course that engages about 20 students in and from Japan with top scholars and entrepreneurs from Stanford University, Silicon Valley, Japan, and beyond and involves students in live discussion sessions or “virtual classes.” It is conducted in English and offered twice annually in the fall and spring by SPICE and the non-profit organization e-Entrepreneurship in Japan. The instructors are Irene Bryant (fall) and Makiko Hirata (spring). 

The goal of the course is to foster creative thinking and problem-solving skills in students with a focus on innovation to address social issues. Students will explore the design thinking process and topics including, but not limited to, health, education and technology, and the environment. The course will culminate in a final individual research paper and final group projects, which will be presented at the last virtual class of the course. 

Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University, and NPO e-Entrepreneurship. Top students in the fall and spring courses will be invited to present their final research papers.

The fall course is generously supported by Noriko & Norman Chen and Andrew & Mako Ogawa. The spring course is generously supported by Tomonori & Sakiko Tani and Richard Barker.

Course components encourage active participation and development of student interests:

• 6 to 8 live “virtual classes” (VCs) offered twice a month online on Sunday mornings (Japan Time)
• Reading and video assignments of varying length and difficulty
• Required participation in virtual discussion boards with peers
• Small-group presentations given during VCs
• Active engagement with students and guest speakers in VCs
• Research in an area of interest aligned with course goals (with instructor guidance)
• Support from the instructor throughout the course

Open to high school students in and from Japan, admission to this program is competitive.

Requirements include:

• Enrollment in first or second year (or equivalent) of high school with interest in social entrepreneurship
• Ability to read, write, and discuss complex ideas in English
• Availability to attend all virtual classes on Sunday mornings (2 to 2.5 hours) and closing ceremony
• Ability to allot 3–5 hours per week for class preparation, individual assignments, and group work
• Access to personal computer, camera, microphone, and reliable, high-speed Internet 

If you have any questions, please contact Irene Bryant (fall course) at irene3@stanford.edu or Makiko Hirata (spring course) at mhirata@stanford.edu.