In July 2025, students from our school gave presentations at the Ireland Pavilion of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, introducing two of their inquiry-based projects: "Laonin" and "SURVIVE." James Lawless, Ireland’s Minister of State for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, attended the event and listened attentively to the students’ sincere efforts.

Laonin is an international cooperation project launched by students in 2016 to tackle educational disparities in Laos. Currently involving 26 junior and senior high school students, the group imports coffee beans via fair trade from the Pakse region of southern Laos. These beans are developed into an original brand and sold, with proceeds donated to "Sakumo Dormitory" to support students who face financial barriers to attending high school. At the Expo, students shared the background of the initiative, their motivations, and the lessons they've learned through the project.

SURVIVE is an international student conference organized and facilitated by Ritsumeikan Uji students. It is a research-based program that invites high schoolers to grapple with global challenges in a fictional future where the SDGs have not been achieved by 2030. At the Expo, students highlighted past themes and collaborative work with multinational peers, sharing how the process of discussion and presentation empowers them to treat future issues as personal and develop the agency to act.

Through this opportunity to present on an international stage, students gained a deep understanding of the responsibility that comes with "communicating" their ideas and how their actions are connected to society. Sharing their work and thoughts beyond the classroom provided invaluable learning experiences. Moving forward, our school remains committed to cultivating opportunities for students to engage with society and develop through real-world practice.