Rakuten IT School
We want to tell children about the power and possibilities of the Internet.
The Rakuten Group has conducted Rakuten IT School activities since 2008 to convey the power and potential of the Internet to children, who will lead the future. It is a part of the "Do Something Good by Rakuten" social contribution project launched on the occasion of the Rakuten Group's tenth anniversary.
The Rakuten IT School activities help communicate the worldview that is distinctive of the Rakuten Group, so as to help children acquire a completely new sense for the potential of the Internet that they use every day.
The main activities are industry-academia partnerships and work experience programs conducted with the cooperation of Rakuten Ichiba shops, as well as Internet literacy classes to ensure the Internet is used properly and safely. Volunteer staff recruited from among employees visit schools and other sites around the country.
Lesson Outline
- Industry-Academia Partnerships
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Students actually get involved in devising sales strategies, constructing website shopping areas, producing products and other operations conducted by Rakuten Ichiba shops. The cooperating shops and volunteer staff guide the activities while conveying e-commerce know-how.
To put the entire process into practice, through to actual sales on the site, approximately one year is spent at a single school devising sales strategies after extensive studies about consumer trends and the characteristics of the cooperating shop. Four schools are currently participating in the program. In December 2009, the Department of Information and Media at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts partnered with the shop Kyoto Morisyou to launch sales of an original spice mix.
Through this collaboration, the students got the opportunity to hear feedback from real customers and learn about operating an actual Internet shop. The project is also being carried out at Ogawara Commercial High School in Miyagi Prefecture, Ino Business High School in Kochi Prefecture, and Nobeoka Commercial High School in Miyazaki Prefecture.
- Work Experience
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The Rakuten IT School promotes collaboration between industry and academia by conducting programs that give students work experience and deepen their understanding of cooperating stores. The students get practical experience updating web pages, sending products and other Net shop operations, observe the manufacturing process for mainstay products, and experience a merchant workplace in a way not possible at their desk or on a computer screen.
