liberal arts - QREC 九州大学ロバート･ファン /アントレプレナーシップ･センター

I first learned about QREC when I spoke with the representative of the QSIP. I was interested in tea, so I was introduced to the QREC idea battle, and in the first semester of my sophomore year, my project was accepted with the theme of “creating a system to remotely manage frost protection fans”. I was able to get a glimpse of the skills and manners I will need when I enter the workforce, while doing something I love.
Some people start with classroom learning and others with hands-on experience, but I think that I gain input more efficiently if I experience and act first rather than think, so I recommend Idea Battle, Challenge & Creation, and Digital Fabrication Tutorial.
I think there are few other universities where you can learn entrepreneurship in a systematic way like at QREC. Whether you want to start a business in the future or not, you will be able to learn how organizations should be, how to be aware of problems, and how to solve them, which will be useful in the future.

I took the class because I was looking for practical learning. Many school classes were theoretical and I had no opportunity to apply them in my daily life after the class, thus my interest waned. through QREC’s classes, I developed a trial-and-error attitude. After recognizing the current level of myself and my team and setting a direction, I was able to learn the process of repeatedly making improvements through the feedback I received as we set specific goals and proceeded, which became a useful attitude even after the class ended, not just in work, but in life as well. Of course, in terms of skills, I learned accounting knowledge from the “QSHOP,” design thinking to create products from the user’s perspective from the “Lean Startup Exercise,” and implementation skills to make ideas tangible from the “Acceleration Program. I highly recommend QREC’s classes and programs to anyone who wants to step out of the existing framework and create new value at university!

At the end of my junior year, a friend suddenly said to me, “I want to start a business,” which led me to participate in the Challenge & Creation (C&C) and Acceleration Program. I had never been involved in QREC in my life as a student before, but I remember that I was excited to participate in the program because I had just finished job hunting and had only a few credits left, so I thought, “I’m not busy, so I’ll do it.
In the Acceleration Program, I learned about the practical aspects of thinking, such as how to identify problems and develop solutions, and the techniques of making pitches. I feel that I was able to experience many things that I would not have been able to experience in my normal student life.
These experiences were similar to the skills that are required when one enters the workforce, which was a bit of a surprise to me, as I had thought that QREC was an organization for people who start their own businesses.
Although it will be tougher for me to participate in QREC activities because I will be working, I am truly grateful to the faculty and mentors who supported me through QREC activities and to my friends and team members who brought me along halfway through the program.

I was assisted by QREC in breaking through barriers in the initial phase of my project.
I first became aware of QREC through a senior entrepreneur who provided me with information as I was conducting various research in preparation for starting my own business. At the end of my sophomore year, I took a year off from school to work for a venture company that supported improvement activities in the manufacturing industry, working on a wide range of tasks from sensor development to data application. When I returned to school the following year, I wanted to do something that would make use of my experience since I was able to spend time as a student with a year of working experience in the industry. It was during this time that I learned about QREC and my idea was selected for the Challenge & Creation (C&C) program, which was followed by the Acceleration Program.
In addition to funding, QREC’s various programs provide support in the form of mentors who are knowledgeable in the field of the project. For me personally, this was very important, as I was able to understand the real needs and challenges of the actual clientele, which gave me a great basis for my project’s direction. I still go to my mentor’s office two days a week to verify that the system we developed meets their expectations. While it is very important to find clients who are willing to cooperate with us in the early stages of a project, it is also a matter of luck whether or not we can actually find such people, given that we have no track record of success. In this sense, we believe that the support we can receive in the name of QREC, especially in the early stages of the project, will be more valuable than monetary support.

Through QREC’s courses, I learned about the excitement of entrepreneurship. I learned about Lean Startup from New Business Creation, which led me to take the Lean Startup. Through the Global Seminar (English), I met Prof. Yamakawa of Babson College, who changed my values about failure. Through the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, I was able to visit Babson College and Silicon Valley and experience the world of entrepreneurship first hand. It was a very long trip, but I will never forget what I learned and experienced here. I will certainly make the most of this experience in the future.

I began to look into QREC after seeing some of my good friends and seniors participating in the QREC program and seeing how much fun they were having.
However, because I found out about QREC so late, I was not able to get involved in the classes or the program very much, but I still had a meaningful time and was able to rethink my future plans. I wish I had known about it earlier (laughs).
I myself am an architectural design major, and although I had a strong education in design thinking and was unfamiliar with entrepreneurship and business, I have incorporated those ideas and am now struggling daily to commercialize my ongoing projects. I am still in contact with the people I attended the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp with in the QREC class, and I am glad I participated because I was able to expand my network and receive good opportunities from them. I think one of the advantages of attending QREC is that I am able to interact with people from completely different backgrounds.
Because I was able to participate in the QREC program and other programs, I was able to have an intense graduate school experience. I would like to make the most of this experience and push forward toward my goals. Thank you very much!

I participated in a program that views the school festival as an opportunity to start a business. My motivation was to try to create something that people would enjoy through knitting, which is my specialty. I branded the knitting I had been doing as a hobby under the name “Kinari no Mori” and tried my hand at selling goods made from yarn and craft bands.

Through this experience, I learned especially the managerial viewpoint of “how to create value-added products while keeping costs down. From the selection of materials to packaging, we balanced cost and quality while devising a pricing structure that would make the product accessible to customers. In order to ensure profit generation while minimizing risk as much as possible, we repeated simulations from the fundraising stage and carefully planned the flow of the product up to the day of sale. It was not easy to generate a profit while maintaining the quality of the products, but we were able to experience the real difficulties and fun of management.
The “venture finance” lectures I had taken the previous year were also very useful. By learning about the flow of money, the structure of account settlements, and the concept of profit calculation in advance, I was able to smoothly apply the knowledge to actual sales planning and pricing. I highly recommend taking the QSHOP and Venture Finance lectures together!

The reason I applied to Idea Battle was that while preparing “Q-DELIVERY,” an online grocery service for students living near the Ito Campus, I wanted to receive objective advice on the business from university professors and adults with practical experience.
In student entrepreneurship, it’s not uncommon for projects with brilliant insights to remain stuck at the “idea stage” without being realized. However, through the Idea Battle I recommend, you can overcome these barriers with strong mentor support, significantly advancing your concept from mere conception to implementation.
My experience at QREC made me keenly aware that while accumulating knowledge through lectures is important, it’s equally vital for students to roll up their sleeves, take action, and boldly introduce their ideas to society without fearing risk. The feedback and experience gained from having people actually use your service far surpasses any theoretical knowledge gained from textbooks.
When implementing ideas and creating services that solve societal issues, the “connections with people” made here become a powerful asset. I encourage you all to take that first step toward bringing your ideas to life.

Honestly, as a student, doesn’t the word “business” alone sound a bit fishy?
I was the same.
Originally, I went abroad to study behavioral science, but I ended up stepping into business studies simply because it was the only field I could major in. That’s why I knew almost nothing about QREC.
But the biggest change I experienced after actually learning it was this.
“I used to act purely on instinct, but now I can think in terms of structure.”
Entrepreneurship wasn’t just about “starting a business.”
It is a way of thinking about how to perceive things.
Who is valuable?
Why does it work?
Where is the bottleneck?
The biggest takeaway is developing the habit of breaking things down to think about them, rather than just moving forward because “it seems okay somehow.”
After studying abroad, I wanted to deepen my learning further, so I also participated in an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.
Discussions with students and professors at top American universities, comparing the startup ecosystems of Fukuoka and the US, and the extraordinary pace of Silicon Valley. It was truly stimulating.
But what impressed me most wasn’t being overwhelmed.
What struck me was how little difference there really is between what I do and what others around me do.
That gave me confidence.
Learning business and developing critical thinking skills has not only been invaluable for event management and career decisions, but I also feel it has strengthened my friendships and my own mental resilience.
QREC didn’t create everything.
But it certainly was a place that elevated the foundation of my thinking.
If you’re wondering, “Does this even apply to me?”, I think it’s worth giving it a try at least once.
At the very least, it was a welcome update for someone like me who was operating purely on instinct.

Introduction to Digital Craftsmanship, which I took during the summer of my freshman year of college, was the most enjoyable class I took during my four years of college. The class consisted of two pairs of students working together to build musical instruments using 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics.
The class was open to a wide range of students, from graduate students to undergraduates, and the person I was paired with was a first-year graduate student in the Graduate School of Engineering, who was five years older than me.
I was able to learn CA, programming, laser cutter, etc., and that was the moment when my mind was converted from college entrance exams to college studies!

The Entrepreneurship Marketing class was also a great learning experience, where I took classes with working professionals who were pursuing their MBAs, and we worked as a team to challenge ourselves to see how high we could sell a product that was available to the general public. After all, I thought it was a very valuable opportunity to get to know famous companies such as Google and Bourbon, and presidents who have started their own businesses, as a team. I had a desire to start my own business as a sole proprietor, so when I went out to dinner with working people, I asked a lot of questions and went to get the knowledge I needed.

QREC keeps me excited all the time in every class and leaves me feeling like I want to try something after class. Honestly, I would rather take an applied course at QREC than take a class where you just sit around! I think you will discover something new.

Students' Voices - liberal arts

I was able to get a glimpse of the skills and mannerisms I will need when I enter the workforce while doing what I love.

For those who want to create new value beyond the boundaries - Learning and challenging yourself at QREC is a step toward growth.

I was able to experience something that will be useful to me as I look for a job.

I was assisted in breaking through barriers at the beginning of the project.

I learned how interesting entrepreneurship can be.

I was able to take a fresh look at my future plans.

Combining knowledge with practice, learning leads to action.

Here, “connections with people” become a powerful asset.

A place that elevated the foundation of my thinking

The most enjoyable class during my four years of college

Students' Voices - liberal arts

I was able to get a glimpse of the skills and mannerisms I will need when I enter the workforce while doing what I love.

I was able to get a glimpse of the skills and mannerisms I will need when I enter the workforce while doing what I love.

Course History

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For those who want to create new value beyond the boundaries - Learning and challenging yourself at QREC is a step toward growth.

For those who want to create new value beyond the boundaries - Learning and challenging yourself at QREC is a step toward growth.

Course History

Comment

I was able to experience something that will be useful to me as I look for a job.

I was able to experience something that will be useful to me as I look for a job.

Course History

Comment

I was assisted in breaking through barriers at the beginning of the project.

I was assisted in breaking through barriers at the beginning of the project.

Course History

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I learned how interesting entrepreneurship can be.

I learned how interesting entrepreneurship can be.

Course History

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I was able to take a fresh look at my future plans.

I was able to take a fresh look at my future plans.

Course History

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Combining knowledge with practice, learning leads to action.

Combining knowledge with practice, learning leads to action.

Course History

Comment

Here, “connections with people” become a powerful asset.

Here, “connections with people” become a powerful asset.

Course History

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A place that elevated the foundation of my thinking

A place that elevated the foundation of my thinking

Course History

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The most enjoyable class during my four years of college

The most enjoyable class during my four years of college

Course History

Comment