Developing and Implementing an Educational Program for Fostering Local Human Resources in a Depopulated Region of Japan

This study developed and implemented a three-year educational program aimed at fostering local human resources for sustainable regional development in a depopulated area of Japan. The program was conducted within the “Period for Integrated Studies”, a compulsory cross-curricular subject in Japanese junior high schools designed to promote interdisciplinary and community-based learning. A longitudinal questionnaire survey (2021–2023) of students assessed changes in knowledge, attitudes, and awareness related to regional sustainability. The results showed significant improvements in students’ understanding of sustainability and awareness of local issues, indicating that continuous, school-based programs can promote more enduring learning outcomes than one-time interventions. However, the increase in students’ willingness to take concrete actions was limited, suggesting the need for further curriculum refinement to strengthen the link between awareness and behavioral change. This study provides empirical evidence that embedding sustainability education systematically within the existing curriculum framework can effectively foster young people’s capacity to engage with the future of their local communities.