Social Contribution Activities
Human Resources Development
We provide a variety of learning opportunities to develop talents leading to new value creation.
Mitsui SASUGAKU Academy
The Mitsui SASUGAKU Academy is a program that leverages Mitsui & Co.'s diverse business activities to facilitate inquiry-based, active learning. The academy was launched in 2014 as a human resources development initiative, which is a key aspect of Mitsui's social contribution activities. In SASUGAKU classes, students are encouraged to gain an understanding of how sustainability works—with "economies" residing atop "societies" that are themselves based upon "environments"—using uniquely developed teaching materials. The students are also encouraged to develop their ability to create and implement ideas for solving social issues from both global and economic perspectives, using Mitsui's existing business activities as primary subject matter. From 2014 to 2019, the program was offered to 30 upper elementary school students, recruited from the general public, for six hours a day over the course of five days. In 2020, with the introduction of integrative learning and inquiry-based learning into the curriculum guidelines for Japanese elementary, junior high, and high school students, the program took on a new form and began to be implemented in collaboration with participating students' schools. Since then, the purpose of the program has been to introduce the Company's initiatives as a means of instilling a spirit of inquiry at each school and grade level at which the program is carried out, supporting the generation and implementation of ideas for solving various social issues from a global business perspective. In 2023, under a comprehensive agreement signed between Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture and our company to jointly promote the UN SDGs, Mitsui subsidiary e-dash Co., Ltd. conducted a class on decarbonization and the visualization of CO2 emissions at a Toride City elementary school. The elementary school students then began their own unique initiatives to visualize and ultimately reduce CO2 emissions, and also entered the Ministry of the Environment's Zero Carbon Challenge Cup, winning a Minister of the Environment Awards Gold Prize in the Junior/Kids' category.
To date, a total of 1,680 individuals have participated in the program.
Supporting Human Resource Development for Future Generations through Scholarship Schemes
Supporting Overseas Students through the Mitsui Bussan Trade Promotion Foundation
The Mitsui Bussan Trade Promotion Foundation was established in 1927 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the former Mitsui, while appointed Mr. Takashi Masuda, the company's first president, as the first chairman. The foundation had ceased to operate with the former Mitsui's dissolution at the end of the World War II. However it has been reactivated in 1989 and has provided support to overseas students learning at universities in Japan as an international exchange enhancement. The support had been mainly provided to the students from Asian countries.
The cumulative total of scholarship recipients has reached 424.
Mitsui Bussan Scholarship Program for Indonesia
Mitsui has built a close relationship with Indonesia through its business. Aspiring to build even stronger ties between Japan and Indonesia, we established the Mitsui-Bussan Scholarship Program for Indonesia in 1992 to support remarkable individuals who would contribute to the further development of their country.
Mitsui has worked in partnership with local organizations to provide scholarships to selected high school students in Indonesia. The students receive support for five-and-half years, enabling them to start from a Japanese language program and to graduate university in Japan. As a new initiative, in addition to providing the scholarships, we havel launched a program to encourage scholarship recipients to consider solutions to social issues in Indonesia, with the aim of producing human resources who will be capable of contributing to Indonesia's nation-building in this era of sustainability.
Mitsui & Co. Scholarship Program for India
We are engaged in a wide range of business activities in India. Aiming to further deepen the economic ties and friendly relations between India and Japan, we established the Mitsui & Co. Scholarship Program for India in 2024 as a means of fostering India-based human resources who are both knowledgeable about and friendly toward Japan, and who can go on to serve as a bridge between the two countries. The program selects scholarship recipients from among Indian students and supports them for a total of five years, from a period of preliminary language training at a Japanese language school to a period of study at a four-year university.
Scholarship Program for Brazilian University Students in Japan
For more information, please refer to the Community Contribution page.
Mitsui also donates scholarship funds to Peru's National Training Service of Industrial Work (SENATI). Furthermore, a scholarship program is operated by Mitsui USA Foundation.
Global Human Resource Development
We have worked to foster reciprocal understanding with young people in the next generation and to engage ourselves in activities for promoting international exchange. We aim to contribute to the creation of brighter futures in countries and regions, where Mitsui has business activities.
Mitsui-endowed Lecture Programs at Overseas Universities
Mitsui has endowed lecture programs in the United States and China.
Contributing to Global Human Resource Development through Training in Japan
In 1971, Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd. established the Mitsui Educational Foundation with the aim of bringing about greater mutual understanding and friendship among Japanese and Australian youth, while contributing to stronger ties between the two nations. Every year, the foundation selects 8 students from universities across Australia to send on a three-week study tour for Japan. The young visitors to Japan have shown a keen interest in learning about a wide range of topics and have been given opportunities while in Japan to visit universities and other educational facilities, companies, factories, and sites that play a significant role in Japan's history and culture. The foundation also offers other opportunities for the participants to learn more about Japan, including homestay where the students are able to experience Japanese lifestyles firsthand, and the two-day exchange opportunity with university students who plans to work for Mitsui.
As of 2023, the Mitsui Educational Foundation program has welcomed 404 students to Japan over the 51 years since it was first established.
