During the keynote speech at the Regional Future Co-Creation Forum 2026, President Naoki Shibutani spoke about the challenge of developing human resources to pave the way to the future.
“Communities are facing a sudden onslaught of complex challenges, including the collapse of medical care and crises facing local governments. The key is the ability to question and pose questions, the ability to act, and the wisdom to connect these. Wisdom, not just knowledge, is becoming increasingly important. We want to work with local communities and companies to develop the next generation of talent who will shape Japan’s future,” he said.
 NTT East Group places emphasis on inquiry-based learning as the core of its human resource development.
“There are four steps to inquiry-based learning. First, experience. Without any preconceptions, immerse yourself in the local area and feel it. Next, application. Ask yourself whether your own values ​​are correct and whether there are any alternatives. Based on these, define the problem and think about what improvements can be made using your knowledge and experience. Finally, practice. Take on challenges even when there is no correct answer, and continue to challenge yourself while learning. This cycle of wisdom develops the skills necessary to survive in the future, such as initiative, creativity, and problem-solving ability. This is the core of inquiry-based learning,” President Shibuya emphasized.

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