UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2021

Hideki Yoshimoto is a designer, artist and researcher. Hideki graduated from the University of Tokyo with BS and MS degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics, then moved to London and completed PhD in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art. He founded his own studio TANGENT in 2015 in London, and has been leading the team’s creative projects utilising his inter-disciplinary knowledge. He was appointed as a Visiting Associate Professor in Art Science at the Osaka University of Arts (2018) and as a Project Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (2020), where he was one of the founding members of the Advanced Art Design Laboratory.

UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2017

The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge has provided me a new point of view towards my global success. Undoubtedly, my passion towards this programme has had a magnificent impact on this society and has enhanced my self-esteem. (2020)

I enjoyed my time during the programme. Not only did I make friends, but I also learned more about teamwork and broadened my mind to other possible solutions to problems. (2020)

This experience has made me realise the importance of being proactive. When I go to university, I would like to study abroad for a year, and I believe being proactive will be very important for that too. (2020)

I had wonderful interaction with students from different schools. Everyone, including the facilitators, kindly supported me in finishing this programme. (2020)

By attending the valuable lectures on the spreading coronavirus, from various perspectives, I was able to deepen my knowledge and become interested in new fields, not to mention the fields that I have been interested in. In addition, by discussing in English with the UK students, I not only improved my English, but I also felt that we were able to cooperate with each other and deepen our friendship online. I am very glad that the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge was held online and that I was able to participate in this programme even though I could not meet people in person. (2020)

Although it was held online, the programme was very enriching as it allowed me to improve my English and become aware of cultural differences. I have very fond memories of the presentation that I made with my group members, even though it was done through a screen. It was a great opportunity for me to broaden my horizons by attending lectures by experts on coronavirus, which is still a global problem that is not uncommon in our daily lives. (2020)

I was inspired by many amazing people I have never met before, people who speak several languages and people who have been to universities abroad. (2020)

I learnt that it is important to keep a broad perspective and to think. I realised that it is not possible to find a solution only within the scope of one’s own thinking, but it is important to do research and listen to the ideas of others in the same group and from different countries. (2020)

After participating in this programme, I feel that I have less hurdles to challenge myself than before. The participants had different goals and dreams, and each of them took many actions to achieve their own goals. Seeing this in my friends inspired me to take the initiative in student council and club activities. (2019)

I was overwhelmed from start to finish by the high aspirations, sharp perspectives and English language skills of the participants, but I tried my best to keep up with them over the 10 days. The special experience of attending lectures at British universities influenced me in many ways and made me more willing to speak up and not be afraid. (2019)

It was a great opportunity to virtually meet different students of the same age group during the pandemic, where there have been very few people to connect with. The students who took part have shown great leadership skills and are playing active roles at school. (2020)