公益財団法人 鯉淵学園's Story
A school where students learn “agriculture and food” and think about the future of people and society
Koibuchi Academy, located in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a school where you can learn “agriculture” and “food” professionally. Since the school opened in 1946, it has nurtured many human resources over its long history and has supported fields related to agriculture and food in Japan. Even now, while valuing the traditions we have cultivated up until now, we are working on education that responds to a changing society.
Thinking about how to live as a person through “agriculture and food"
A major characteristic of Koibuchi Academy is that it values learning not only about expertise and techniques in agriculture, nutrition, food, etc., but also thinking about “how to live as a person” and “how to apply what you have learned for society.”
Food, which is essential to our lives, is deeply connected to agriculture. Things that are on the table every day, such as rice, vegetables, fruits, and livestock products, are produced in nature and are delivered to us through the hands of many people.
In the process, there are people who produce, people who process, people involved in distribution, people who cook, and people who eat. In other words, thinking about “food” means thinking about “agriculture,” “nature,” and even “people,” “regions,” and “society.”
Learn the connection between “agriculture” and “food"
At Koibuchi Academy, we will acquire specialized knowledge and skills while valuing this connection between “agriculture and food.”
By actually touching things through practical exercises, etc., and learning by moving your own hands, you can gain experiences that cannot be obtained with textbooks alone.
In agriculture, we know the process of growing crops, and while learning about food and nutrition, we think about food safety and health. Because learning is conscious of actual situations, knowledge is transformed into living power.
Think about “WHY” rather than just “HOW”
What Koibuchi Academy values is thinking not only about “HOW” but also about “WHY.”
Of course, it is important to learn how to “grow crops” and “how to make food.” But that's not enough.
By thinking about “why do we do it,” “who do we do it for,” and “what kind of society do we want to create with it,” we can see the meaning of the knowledge and technology we have learned.
Develop the ability to face social challenges
The environment surrounding agriculture and food is now undergoing major changes.
There are various issues in places close to us, such as a shortage of workers responsible for agriculture, aging, food issues, environmental issues, and heightened interest in health.
In order to support “agriculture and food” in the future, it is necessary not only to have specialized technology, but also to have the ability to grasp changes in society from a broad perspective, think for oneself, and act in cooperation with people around them.
Koibuchi Academy aims to develop such abilities through specialized education.
Grow as a human instead of just expertise,
In addition to knowledge and technology in agriculture, food, nutrition, etc., it is important to grow as an expert and as a single person by thinking about relationships with people, history, culture, and society.
It's not just a place where people who “want to work in agriculture” or “want to do food related work” learn.
It's a place where people who are interested in nature and food, people who like making things with their own hands, people who want to contribute to the community and society, and people who want to think about future food and agriculture can also find various possibilities.
Knowledge and technology that have been passed down over a long history, and ways of thinking necessary for a new era.
While valuing both, Koibuchi Academy is developing human resources to support the future of “agriculture and food.”
Thinking about future society from “agriculture and food"
To eat is to live. And what supports that food is agriculture.
Studying agriculture and food is also about thinking about our own lives and the future of society.
Koibuchi Academy is a place of learning for each person to think about their own future and connect what they have learned to society, using “agriculture and food” as an entrance
