Hakata High School Students Visit i-PRO Fukuoka R&D Center as Part of Career Education Program
In July 2025, just before the summer break, second-year students from the general course at Hakata High School (located in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City) visited i-PRO Co., Ltd.’s Fukuoka R&D Center as part of their career education initiative, “HAKATA Navit.”。
At Hakata High School, students begin exploring their views on work—why we work and how we work—in their first year. In their second year, they revisit these ideas and engage in company visits to help inform their future career paths. Through direct interaction with professionals, students gain insights into what they can do now as high schoolers, what they should be preparing for, and how these experiences can shape their future.
i-PRO welcomed this initiative and hosted the students with support from members of the General Affairs, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, and Development departments. The visit began with a business card exchange, followed by a company overview, a workplace tour featuring product image quality and reliability testing, and a Q&A session.
Students asked sincere and thoughtful questions such as:
• “What kind of work do you do?”
• “Why did you choose this career?”
• “What are the challenges of your job?”
• “Have you ever experienced failure or setbacks?”
• “What is the most important skill for working in society?”
Employees responded with candid reflections:
• “I face setbacks every week.”
• “Enjoy what you can only do now—this is your youth.”
• “It’s important to have a field where you won’t lose to others.”
• “Being honest is key. Mistakes are okay—what matters is how you respond afterward.”
Toshihiro Shimizu, Vice President of Human Resources at i-PRO, shared the five goals outlined by the school for the visit:
- Reflect on the meaning of work
- Gain exposure to society beyond school life
- Understand the importance of business etiquette
- Discover the rewards of being a working professional
- Explore SDGs-related topics and connect them to research activities
“We believe the students were able to experience all of these goals meaningfully. It was a valuable opportunity for them to learn about i-PRO and for us to contribute to their growth,” Shimizu said.
Student Feedback:
• “Visiting i-PRO in person allowed me to truly feel the workplace atmosphere.”
• “As a science student who loves gadgets, everything at the office sparkled—it was so much fun.”
• “Through this experience, I learned how companies contribute to society.”
• “It was a great opportunity that will help me with my future career decisions.”
Employee Reflections:
• “Interacting with high school students was refreshing and different from our usual customer engagements. It felt like a meaningful contribution to the local community.”
• “Their pure questions made me reflect on why I work and what motivates me.”
• “Though the students seemed nervous, they bravely asked questions and handled the unfamiliar business card exchange with determination. It was inspiring.”
Later, each student sent a handwritten thank-you letter, which deeply moved the entire office and filled it with a sense of warmth and appreciation.
The visit provided students with valuable insights for their future, while also giving i-PRO employees a chance to reflect on their own professional journeys. i-PRO remains committed to supporting career education for the next generation in the local community.
For inquiries regarding this event: pr@i-pro.com