24 April 2026

[Event Report] Public-Private Partnership Workshop for the Establishment of JAHE

On April 23 and 24, 2026, a two-day "Public-Private Partnership Workshop for the Establishment of the Japan Alliance for Holistic Education (JAHE)" was held in a hybrid format at the conference room of PADECO Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo).

Overview

This workshop was organized as part of the preparations to establish JAHE, a platform for Japanese companies, organizations, and specialized institutions to collaborate and contribute to international education reform.

In partnership with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), active information sharing and discussions took place from both public and private sector perspectives.

Event highlights

23 April 2026 —The first day began with an explanation of the purpose behind establishing JAHE, followed by opening remarks from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Participating private companies then engaged in active information exchanges within their respective working groups.

Additionally, representatives from the GPE presented the latest trends in educational support in Africa, prompting a dynamic Q&A session. Following the main program, a business card exchange and networking reception were held, strengthening connections among participants from diverse fields and industries.

24 April 2026 —The second day opened with a review session reflecting on the previous day’s discussions.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and MEXT shared information regarding related policies and international cooperation initiatives, providing a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of the alignment between government policy and private-sector engagement. The GPE presented the current status and challenges of educational reform in Asia, followed by another round of discussions within the working groups. The workshop concluded with a summary session that confirmed the future direction for JAHE among all participants.

The working groups

Discussions throughout the workshop centered on the following three working groups established by JAHE.

Learning & Human Development

Establishing basic academic skills, autonomous learning habits, and fostering socio-emotional skills.

Creative & Physical Development

Unlocking children’s potential through music, arts, and sports.

Food & Nutrition Education as an Education System

Positioning school meals and nutrition education as integral parts of the educational framework to support health, learning, and local communities.

Promoting these three areas in an integrated manner forms the core strength of Japan’s unique Holistic Education model.

Future prospects

Through this workshop, collaboration among public and private stakeholders who support JAHE’s vision advanced significantly.

JAHE will continue its establishment preparations to build a robust framework for sharing Japan’s educational expertise and philosophy with the international community, working toward the GPE Replenishment Conference scheduled to take place in Rome in October 2026.

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Working in education, in Japan or beyond?

JAHE works with overseas governments and ministries of education, international organisations, educational institutions and companies — and with Japanese organisations seeking international partners.