On June 5, Okayama University collaborated with ABABA Co., Ltd. (ABABA) for the second time to host a special online lecture called “Okayama University UNESCO Chair 2021 Special Lecture – Anyone Can Make an App x SDGs [Event 2]: Create a Homepage in only 3 Hours!”

The special lecture series is targeted at high school and university students interested in using no-code applications to create their own smartphone applications or websites (e.g., for a school club or student-led initiative) and aims to teach students how to use no-code technology. Approximately 30 people participated in this lecture.

Continuing from the first lecture in April, students were given practical advice on how to use no-code technology. This lecture featured 3 guest lecturers, among them Okayama University alumni and ABABA co-founder and current CEO Mr. KUBO Shunki. First, Mr. KUBO gave a review of the previous lecture and showed some examples of no-code applications, then the lecturers introduced a no-code application called “STUDIO”, which can be used to create a homepage. Afterwards, participants got the opportunity to create their own homepage by it.

Following the principle of a “welcoming digital society where nobody gets left behind”, the lecturers divided participants into smaller groups using break-out rooms on Zoom, making it easier to track everybody’s progress and give personalized advice. The lecture also featured a lively Q&A session between participants and lecturers. After the lecture, participants were asked to answer a short questionnaire. One student remarked that the lecture was “very accessible and easy to understand” and another commented, “I enjoyed using STUDIO. Now that I understand the possibilities of no-code technology, I would like to try and make my own website.” Overall, the event was deemed a great success.

Okayama University is the only university in Asia that has been recognized by the UNESCO as a UNESCO Chair with the goal of promoting activities for ESD. It promotes practical training and development for the next generation in accordance with the UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs (ESD for 2030) framework, which was adopted in 2019.

○What is No-code?
No-code refers to technology for creating websites, applications, online business tools, etc. that can be used without coding (writing programs that use specialized programming language). By using no-coding tools, it is possible for someone without prior coding knowledge or skills to create websites and applications intuitively and in a shorter period of time.

Lecturer profile (honorific titles omitted):
・KUBO Shunki
　Okayama University graduate and current CEO at ABABA, which he co-founded while still a fourth-year student at Okayama University. The company offers a matching service that helps increase the hiring potential of job applicants who fall out at the final interview stage by recommending them to other companies looking for exemplary candidates. He won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 17th Campus Venture Grand Prix (CVG) National Tournament.

・ NISHIDA Yuya
Founded a business while attending Kwansei Gakuin University, won the grand prize at “MIRAINO PITCH” and was the runner-up at the Entrepreneur Koshien National Competition for his tour service, called GUIBO, that connects local guides with foreigners visiting Japan. He also completed a 2-week training program in Silicon Valley and created a crowdfunding ”Harotokuwa”. After graduating from university, he co-founded ABABA. Currently, he holds no-code events at Kwansei Gakuin University.

・ KAWABATA Kohei
Representative of Epoch, one of the largest student groups in Kansai. He oversees public relations targeted at students and serves as a representative of the ABABA career initiative called, “If you are having trouble finding a job, speak to your seniors!”