The Shidler College of Business and Japan Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony Tuesday at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The new partnership aims to enhance collaborative opportunities centered on human resource development. The university and airline will work together in various fields, including non-tourism sectors, to resolve social issues in the islands, including environmental concerns and achievement of sustainable development goals, to increase the attractiveness and value of Hawaii to realize a sustainable society that can be passed onto future generations.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with Japan Airlines,” Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley said. “Given Hawaii’s rich historical ties to Japan, coupled with Hawaii being a premier destination for Japanese visitors, this is a synergistic alignment. We look forward to working with JAL and providing unique opportunities to our students.”
Hiroshi Kuroda, Japan Airlines regional manager, Hawaii, said the company is looking forward to deepening its relationship with the Shidler College of Business “by leveraging the strengths of students focused in the fields of innovation, tourism and human resource development in collaboration with our own innovation team located in Silicon Valley.”
Among the cooperation and collaboration plans are establishing a pilot program that will consider commercialization that will solve social issues or enhance customer value; implementing a travel-centered mobile app and conduct joint research on database marketing and commercialization; collaborating with TRUE (an initiative launched by the Hawaii Executive Collaborative, which aims to tech-enable local businesses) on events that promote the activities of start-ups and to create new business opportunities; and establish a human resource development internship program at UH to provide internship opportunities for students at various JAL offices in the U.S.