Kajima conducted a bridge-themed class from June to December 2019 by visiting Tokyo Metropolitan Ryogoku High School. This was aimed to support the "Period for Inquiry-Based Cross-Disciplinary Study" class that has started to be introduced at high schools.

Inspired by its namesake of the Ryogoku Bridge, Ryogoku High School selected bridges as the theme for conducting an inquiry-based class with the goal of "bridging the unconnected" such as separated, unknown, and distant things. To support this class, Kajima dispatched an engineer with experience in bridge construction. In June, we delivered general lectures on bridges to all the first-year students. In the second semester, we gave lectures on bridge structures to students who were particularly interested in technology.

In December, the students concluded the class by creating bridges using pasta and giving presentations to demonstrate theories about bridge strength. Divided into several groups, the students presented their observations about differences between predictions based on preliminary calculations and experimental results. They researched realistic problems, such as costs, processes, and structural characteristics, using the kind of flexible and unique perspectives that can only be seen in high school students. Some of their insights even impressed the engineer who participated as a lecturer.

Kajima values education for the next generation as a social contribution activity. Going forward, we will strive to assist with inquiry-based cross-disciplinary classes at high schools by making use of the experience cultivated through our projects. Through our actions, we hope to help nurture human resources who will shape the future.

On November 23, 2019, the Temporary Fence Paint Art Event was held at the construction site of Royal Garden Tower Okayama Saiwai-cho, a condominium under construction near JR Okayama Station.

By organizing this event, we hoped that decorating a cold temporary fence with art would brighten the atmosphere around the construction site and help prevent graffiti and crime.

Some 80 participants including pupils at the nearby Kyosei Nursery School and their guardians produced a colorful work of art together. Some pupils colored a scene from the folk tale Peach Boy on a wall using brushes and rollers, while others painted their own pictures in available space elsewhere. They made handprints for the finishing touch, resulting in a bright and cheerful piece of art.

The participating nursery school pupils and teachers thanked us, saying "We had fun!" and "The pupils were delighted with this valuable experience, which we all will remember whenever we walk along the street. Please keep up the good work until the building is completed!"

Going forward, Kajima will continue in its social contribution activities with consideration for safety around construction sites as well as the local environment.

For two days on October 29 and 31, 2019, we co-hosted a tour with the Kanto Branch of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers at the Kajima Technical Research Institute (Chofu-shi, Tokyo). This event has been held almost annually since 1990 in order to provide children with an understanding of the value and importance of civil engineering. This time, some 320 fifth grade students at nearby three elementary schools participated.

In the tour, personnel described the types and structures of bridges in an easy-to-understand manner using models. There were also three hands-on programs: Learning more about concrete by preparing it, a soil liquefaction experiment in which an earthquake turns the ground into water, and a room that reflects sound.

The participating pupils commented that they understood the difference in strength between girder bridges and truss bridges thanks to the models made of spaghetti, that they were surprised at how fast concrete solidifies, that they gained a solid understanding about soil liquefaction and countermeasures, and that they learned for the first time that people and clothes absorb sound. Participants also engaged in an energetic question and answer session including topics such as how bridge designs are decided and why concrete is durable.

The private sector training for teachers program was held by the Keizai Koho Center (Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs) for three days between August 20 and 22, 2019. The program has been implemented as an activity to promote dialog between economic and educational circles. This year, Kajima marked its 11th anniversary of accepting participants for this program. A group of 20 people attended the program, including elementary, junior high, and high school vice-principals that belong to the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.

The three-day program offered insight into the latest construction technologies through a tour of Kajima Technical Research Institute as well as a tour of civil engineering and building sites. This allowed participants to witness the forefront of manufacturing that involves IT-device-based information sharing and drone utilization.

The participants were also requested to answer a questionnaire before the program. We gave classroom lectures on high-interest topics based on the results of this questionnaire, such as safety and health, labor management, human resource nurturing, and woman empowerment. We also described safety management techniques at construction sites and female engineers' contributions.

Some participating teachers commented that they were surprised at how thorough safety management is in construction work, that they wanted to quickly apply the management techniques that they learned at school, and that they wanted to increase the number of students that aim to work in the construction industry.

Kajima focuses on educating the next generation as a social contribution activity. Going forward, we will continue to accept participants in private sector training.