March 31, 2026

IHI Infrastructure Square Participated in Special Education Program for High School Students in Sakai City, Osaka

IHI Infrastructure Square Co., Ltd. (formerly IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd., hereinafter “IIS”) participated in a special education program for first-year students at Risho Gakuen Osaka Ritsumeikan High School in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, a designated Super Science High School. IIS conducted a special class on July 24, 2025, and subsequently participated in a dialogue workshop hosted by the school on September 11.

During the special class on July 24, IIS held a lecture on bridges along with multiple workshops. This was the second time the program had been conducted, with approximately 200 students participating. A total of 23 IIS employees took part as lecturers and supporters.
In the first half, IIS employees delivered a lecture titled “Bridges: What Can We Do Today to Shape the Future?” The lecture not only covered technical knowledge about bridges but also featured video footage of the construction of the Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey, a project undertaken by IIS. Through this, students gained insight into actual construction sites and the importance of engineering technologies.

In the second half, students participated in workshops by selecting from four themes of interest:

● Bridge Contest

Students challenged themselves to build strong and durable bridges within a limited time using materials such as paper. The contest determined the winner based on achieving the highest strength with the lightest structure in a final load test. Students’ trial-and-error efforts were particularly notable.

● Careers of Engineers with Diverse Backgrounds

A female engineer from IIS introduced her work and provided students with practical tasks related to her field, offering an opportunity to consider career paths for engineers, including women in engineering roles.

● Multinational Team Communication

Employees from four different countries working at IIS introduced their respective cultures and engaged in dialogue with students. Based on what they learned, students gave self-introductions of the instructors in English, encouraging greater interest in international perspectives.

● Easy Measurement with 3D Scanning

Students explored high-precision measurement methods using 3D scanning technology. They were also introduced to smartphone-based 3D scanning applications and experienced using them on their own devices.

Participating students commented, “Communicating with people from overseas was challenging, but I would like to actively participate in similar opportunities in the future,” and “I had thought 3D scanning was a complex technology, but I was surprised to learn that it can be easily used on smartphones.” These workshops provided valuable opportunities for students to develop an interest in science and engineering fields and to reflect on their future career paths.

On September 11, IIS also participated for the first time in a dialogue workshop titled “Conversations with Female Researchers, Developers, Engineers, and Female University and Graduate Students,” which included university staff and engineers from other companies. A total of 406 first-year students took part, divided into mixed-gender groups of three to five students with one facilitator, engaging in six 20-minute sessions. Four female engineers from the IHI Group participated as facilitators.
Following introductions and explanations of their work, participants also shared experiences related to gender bias in the workplace and exchanged opinions freely with students. According to a post-event survey, approximately 90% of students responded that the dialogue increased their interest in science-related fields, including bridge engineering.

Through the special education programs held in July and September, students had the opportunity to interact with employees engaged in a variety of roles and career paths related to bridges, broadening their interest in science and engineering and encouraging them to consider their future careers.
The IHI Group will continue to actively engage in nurturing the next generation and contribute to the development of local communities and society.

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