On November 24, the "TEDxOkayama University Student Speaker Competition" was held at the 50th Anniversary Hall. The event aimed to select two student representatives who will speak at the TEDxOkayama University event scheduled for April 20, 2025. The event was organized by the TEDxOkayama University Organizing Team, consisting of volunteer students from the Discovery Program for Global Learners.

The event started with an opening address from President NASU Yasutomo. He quoted a song by artist AI, with whom he recently had a conversation, and encouraged the speakers and audience by saying, "I hope you become aware that you’re the main character of your own story, take action, and strive to make the path you choose the right one."

Afterward, a total of 10 students from various schools and graduate schools of Okayama University, along with students from Notre Dame Seishin University, took the stage to present their unique ideas in the same venue as the main event. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the presentations titiled "NaX Project: Naoshima Transformation through Student Transformation" by WATANABE Yume (2nd year, Graduate School of Education) and "The Future of Our Communities – What "Hometown" Means to Me" by UMAKOSHI Mika (3rd year, Faculty of Literature, Notre Dame Seishin University) were highly praised and selected as the two representatives.

Additionally, the Audience Award, selected by audience votes, was announced. As the judges remarked, "All the presentations were outstanding, and it was difficult to choose the best," showcasing the high level of each presentation, which made a strong impression on the audience. The event concluded with a sense of excitement and was a great success.

In addition to the two students chosen, 8 guest speakers including researchers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs with ties to Okayama, making a total of 10 people, will gather for the TEDxOkayama University event on April 20, 2025, to inspire the youth of Okayama with their presentations. We look forward to seeing you at the April event!