What's IDA?

International Development Academy (IDAcedemy, or IDA) is one of the official clubs in the Tokyo Institute of Technology. IDA started in 2008 when we won a gold award in the Mondialogo Engineering Award, where 883 university engineers' teams from all over the world participated. We have done activities in Nepal, Kenya, Vietnam, the Philippines, Fukushima, and Tokyo. Students from different majors, nationalities, and academic years are cooperating and have discussions, which is a unique point of this club. We are aiming at the output with high quality by sharing the know-how of project management or fundraising. We will contribute to various regions through technology and hope to be on a par with MIT D-lab or Stanford d.school.

Vision, and our objectives

Our vision is "Contribution to the world through technology"

In order to achieve our vision, we set the following objectives;

• To develop leadership, team management skills, Monozukuri techniques, and knowledge of engineering and humanities for solving social issues
• To create appropriate technologies through various projects based on field survey
• To build a network across majorities, academic years, and nationalities
• To lead and play an active role in the front lines

Introduction of Tokyo Tech International Development Academy

What's International Development?

Solving problems based on local needs

　　　　　　　　　　

International development is to provide knowledge and skills to the local people to meet local needs. Local needs are what the locals are looking for, and what they are not aware of yet, but they also want to solve it by explaining what we notice. For example, the former is their need for more money, electricity, and clean water. The latter is a long-term problem such as waste disposal, deforestation, overfishing, depopulation, and industrial decline. We are aiming at solving these issues through technology.

Activity period is basically longer than emergency supports

When you hear about international development, or international cooperation, you might imagine activities like volunteering after a conflict or disaster, providing free clothing and food, and holding an event to encourage local people. Such emergency assistance is often one-time or for a limited period, such as a week. On the other hand, in international development, we investigate local needs, develop solutions, and make plans so that local people can implement the project by themselves. In our club, long-term projects are being carried out to understand the local issues and develop solutions. The cinnamon project has been going on for over five years.

Considering how we relate to international development

You may feel that international development is complicated, and refrain from doing it because you are not aiming at working in developing countries in the future. However, not all IDA members are thinking of getting a job in international development. Rather, few members think that way. Through activities at IDA, we consider how we relate to international development. In addition to working at local places, international development includes;

• Planning services that meet local needs
• Thinking about whether our business partners are indirectly exploiting someone to fulfill their corporate social responsibility
• Purchasing fair trade products or products with less packaging to improve the livelihoods and natural environment
• Identify and raise funds for NGOs and NPOs that carry out international development that is close to the local area

The level of involvement in international development varies depending on the time and person. We aim to be able to take action for local people as much as we can.