ERS Project 2025: Students Tackle Real-World Ethical and Sustainability Challenges

The 2026 ERS (Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability) Project at NUCB Business School, led by Professor Hakeem, brought together students from diverse backgrounds to engage directly with industry stakeholders and explore real-world sustainability challenges.

Throughout the programme, students visited leading companies and infrastructure sites in Aichi Prefecture, gaining firsthand insight into how sustainability is embedded across both private industry and public environmental systems.

Industry Visits

Students visited Niterra, where they explored how the company integrates sustainability considerations into its long-term business strategy while continuing to innovate in global markets.

They also visited STEM, along with SMAC and the Chita Nanbu Sewage Purification Center. These visits provided valuable exposure to water treatment systems, environmental infrastructure, and the operational realities of sustainable urban management.

Student Analysis and Presentations

Following the visits, students worked in groups to develop presentations based on their observations, interviews, and analysis of the companies’ sustainability approaches.

Representatives from both Niterra and STEM attended the final presentations, engaging directly with student teams and providing valuable feedback from an industry perspective.

The engagement from both companies was particularly strong, with discussions going beyond technical implementation to broader global questions, including how water treatment strategies differ between developed and developing economies. After listening to the student presentations, one light-hearted moment came when visiting Japanese participants commented on how unexpectedly difficult it was to pronounce “sakura,” sparking laughter and reflecting the relaxed and open atmosphere of the exchange.

The discussions overall highlighted a wide range of themes, particularly around water management, sustainable business development, and the balance between operational efficiency and long-term environmental responsibility.

Closing Reflections

The ERS Project concluded with a dinner session bringing together students and industry participants in a more informal setting to reflect on the experience and exchange perspectives.

Overall, the project demonstrated the value of experiential learning in connecting academic frameworks with real-world sustainability challenges, while strengthening students’ ability to think critically and act as emerging business leaders.