Delivered on November 9, 2026
How to Cultivate Location-Based Information Talent? New Learning Created by Universities and Industry: Reskilling Program
Speakers:
Takayuki Arima, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Studies, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Yokohama City University
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
We will welcome Associate Professor Takayuki Arima of the Department of Urban Studies, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Yokohama City University, as our guest speaker to discuss the "Reskilling Program," which systematically teaches location and geospatial information. In the location information industry, there are differences in knowledge and understanding depending on the job role, such as engineers, analysts, and sales representatives, and opportunities for systematic learning are still insufficient. Therefore, Yokohama City University is developing an on-demand program that allows students to learn from the basics to practical applications in four steps: "Know, Read, Design, and Propose." We will also introduce collaboration with the LBMA Japan certification system, future developments in areas such as tourism, urban planning, marketing, and disaster prevention, and the industry-government-academia symposium to be held in December.
December 11th (Fri) Yokohama City University Symposium
Location Information Data Development Program
Registration:
https://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/scc/recurrent/location/event.html
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Yokohama City University and LBMA Japan Tackle the Challenges of Location Data Education and Human Resource Development
Associate Professor Takayuki Arima of the Faculty of International Liberal Arts at Yokohama City University specializes in urban and tourism research utilizing human flow data and location information in the Tourism Management Laboratory. In recent years, while the use of location data has expanded, there has been a lack of systematic teaching materials and learning environments within the industry. As a result, there has been a lack of opportunities to teach "what location information is" from the basics in companies and educational settings, making human resource development an urgent need. Against this backdrop, Yokohama City University, in collaboration with the General Incorporated Association LBMA Japan, has begun developing a location information education program with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
The Objective of the Location Information Literacy Program to Bridge the Knowledge Gap Between Analysts and Sales
In practical settings handling location information, there tends to be a gap in knowledge and understanding of data between engineers/analysts and sales/marketing departments. There are cases where analytical engineers cannot fully grasp the needs of the field, or where sales representatives cannot make optimal proposals because they do not understand the analytical methods. This program is designed to raise the overall literacy level of organizations and facilitate smoother communication. It provides opportunities for a wide range of people to learn how to utilize these skills, including not only practitioners seeking retraining, but also those seeking career changes from other industries and students.
On-Demand Learning Structure in 4 Steps: "Know, Read, Design, Propose"
This educational program is structured into four clear phases, aiming to ensure participants steadily acquire skills that can be used in their work.
Step 1, "Know," focuses on acquiring the unique properties and basic knowledge of location data. Step 2, "Read," focuses on learning analytical methods to accurately interpret accumulated data and decipher trends and characteristics. Step 3, "Design," focuses on acquiring the skills to construct appropriate data acquisition and analysis approaches according to the challenges faced by local governments and private companies. Step 4, "Propose," cultivates the practical ability to formulate concrete measures and business plans based on analysis results and propose them to clients.
Each step includes 8 to 10 video lectures, each approximately 10 minutes long, providing a total of approximately 40 video contents. The lectures are entirely on-demand, allowing participants to start and progress at their own pace, 24 hours a day.
Establishment of the Official Certification System "Location Intelligence Expert" and Participant Benefits
In conjunction with the launch of this program, a certification system will be introduced to support the skill development and verification of participants.
In collaboration with LBMA Japan, an official certification exam, "Location Intelligence Expert," corresponding to the lecture content, will be established. This certification exam is scheduled to begin in January 2027, and participants who have completed viewing all videos will be eligible to take the exam. As a special measure for the first year, the first 100 applicants will receive free tuition and certification fees.
December 11th: Full Details of the Industry-Government-Academia Symposium in Collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
A large-scale symposium will be held to share concerns regarding educational challenges at universities and corporate development, and to explore solutions.
The symposium will be held on Friday, December 11th, from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Yokohama Information and Culture Center's "Joho Hall." Representatives from government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, university researchers, and industry companies will gather to discuss human resource development schemes and common challenges. The capacity is 200 people, and participation is free of charge. Anyone can attend by pre-registering. A networking reception is planned after the symposium.
A Four-Year Continuing Project and Expansion into Tourism, Urban Planning, Disaster Prevention, and Marketing
This initiative will not be a one-off event, but will continue and evolve for at least four years as a project subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
In line with advancements in location information technology and data trends, the lecture content will be updated annually with the latest information. In addition to the current tourism management area, the program will be expanded to include courses combining knowledge from a wide range of specialized domains, such as urban planning, marketing, and disaster prevention. The program aims to cultivate industry-leading experts by providing a step-by-step learning experience, from acquiring foundational knowledge to advanced domain utilization.
Summary
The location information reskilling program promoted by Yokohama City University and LBMA Japan presents a new talent development model for the location information industry, which has lacked systematic learning opportunities. By enabling both engineers and sales representatives to share a common language through the four steps of "knowing, reading, designing, and proposing," the data utilization capabilities and business promotion capabilities of the entire organization will improve.
Furthermore, a cross-industry ecosystem is steadily taking shape through the visualization of skills with the official certification "Location Intelligence Expert," the industry-government-academia symposium held on December 11th in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the expansion of courses into urban planning and disaster prevention fields over the next four years. This initiative, which connects location information data with social implementation, is attracting attention as a foundation for developing the next generation of talent that will lead future tourism DX, urban planning, and disaster prevention marketing.