Rikkyo School in England & SCEU: A Hands-On Program for Tackling Social Issues
U.K.
Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited (SCEU) has launched a special program in partnership with Rikkyo School in England, a Japanese boarding school that shares SCEU’s vision of developing global talent, in which SCEU members work with students to explore social issues from multiple perspectives.
With SCEU’s CEO also serving as a member of the school’s board of directors, the two organizations have established a strong partnership to plan and deliver a five-session program running from November 2025 to March 2026. Twelve students, selected from grades 10 to 12, are participating. In the final session, students will give presentations at SCEU’s London office under the theme “How to Realize a ‘No.1 Business Strategy’ by Contributing More to Society,” followed by opportunities to interact with SCEU employees.
Session 1: Online Session
The first session was held online, with Mr. Koike, CEO of SCEU, introducing the history and philosophy of Sumitomo Corporation, the breadth of its businesses, and its business strategies. He explained how the Sumitomo Corporation Group has grown by responding to change while addressing social issues, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the company’s approach.
This was followed by a presentation by Mr. Kakuda, Deputy Head of EX Business Unit, on the theme “How to Realize a Carbon-Neutral Society.” He outlined the fundamental challenges related to energy issues and explained the company’s concrete initiatives toward achieving a decarbonized society.
The students demonstrated remarkably deep insight into the means required for decarbonization, the need for social transformation, and the role of corporations, asking sharp questions throughout the session. Some approached the topic from a philosophical perspective, making the discussion lively and intellectually stimulating.
Building on what they learn in each session, students deliver presentations at the following session. Divided into three groups, they took on the assignment of developing business proposals aimed at realizing a decarbonized society. Thus began a five-month challenge designed to sharpen critical thinking skills and strengthen their ability to express ideas in their own words.
Session 2: On-Site Visit & School-Wide Panel Discussion
In the second session, members of SCEU and SCSK Europe visited Rikkyo School in England and held a panel discussion for all 172 students. Representing SCEU were Mr. Koike and Mr. Kakuda, continuing from the first session, while Mr. Shibazaki, Managing Director of SCSK Europe, also joined. They spoke passionately about the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s businesses, diverse career paths, leadership, and commitment to contributing to society. Students asked questions enthusiastically, and the discussion became so engaging that time ran short.
The speakers’ messages, grounded in their own professional experiences, resonated strongly with the students, many of whom reported a broadened perspective and a renewed sense of future possibilities.
This was followed by the second session of the program for the 12 selected students. The three groups presented the business proposals they had prepared as homework from the previous session, focused on realizing a decarbonized society. Despite limited preparation time due to overlapping exam periods, the students delivered persuasive ideas that incorporated real-world business perspectives, drawing expressions of surprise from the corporate participants. Afterwards, they listened attentively to professional feedback and reflected seriously on their own futures. Several students commented that it was “the best class of the year,” making the session a deeply meaningful learning experience for both sides.
In addition, under the theme “Leveraging Rapidly Evolving Technologies,” Mr. Shibazaki and Mr. Chiba, Deputy Managing Director of SCSK Europe, delivered a lecture on the continued advancement of AI. Together with the students, they explored both the potential for dramatic positive social change and the potential downsides and risks associated with AI.
Upcoming Schedule
In 2026, the program will address the theme “How to Develop the Future of Mobility.” Building on their challenges related to realizing a decarbonized society and their exploration of rapidly advancing technologies such as AI, students will deepen their thinking on the evolution of mobility and emerging business opportunities.
In the final session, students will visit SCEU’s London office to deliver presentations in front of SCEU members, bringing their learning to fruition through direct interaction with employees.
