Mikuko Hisanaga さん

Mikuko Hisanaga – DX Team

Third-Year Correspondence Course Student, Faculty of Economics

DX Team

At the DX Team, we work together with faculty to identify processes at Keio that we would like to digitalize. We take on the whole process of digitalization, from defining requirements, to development, testing, and actual application. 

Introduction

I have worked for companies such as the subsidiary of a major Japanese cosmetics manufacturer and an apparel startup, and dabbled in various fields, including advertising, video direction, sales, and customer service. I enrolled at the Keio University Faculty of Economics for reskilling. While juggling my studies, I also participate in the AI and Advanced Programming Consortium (AIC)’s DX Team, where I work on the development of various systems, including those for event management, email distribution, and, in collaboration with Keio Track and Field, athletic scouting.

What kind of activities does AIC organize?

As a member of the DX Team, I endeavor to use IT and programming to help resolve inconveniences and issues I encounter at Keio by systematizing and automating various processes.

Event Management System

Many different events are held at AIC on a daily basis. To ensure a smoother and more pleasant event experience, the DX Team created a system to manage the whole process of event participation, from registration to admission.
I mainly worked on the email distribution system. Thanks to this system, admission to events is much simpler. Now, all participants need to do is show an email with a QR code upon entry.

Track and Field Scouting System

The DX Team developed a scouting system for Keio Track and Field. The team searches for talented high school athletes, and using this new system has made the process more efficient.
I built an AI-based filtering system for use with the data scraping system that was developed by other team members.
The people at Keio Track and Field were thrilled when we showed them the completed system – it was at that moment that I felt that digitalization really matters.

Why did you choose the DX Team?

Because I made the risky life choice to enter university at the age of 24, I decided that I wanted to learn something completely different from what I had experienced previously, even if that something might be out of my comfort zone. I had the opportunity to apply to either the Corporate Planning Team or the DX Team, but I decided that I would put aside what was on my resume and try something new. At the time, I only had elementary programming skills, but I decided to embark a new educational journey and join the DX Team. As a result, I was able to venture into the new fields of programming and digitalization. Thinking back, I really believe I made the right decision.

What are your activities outside of AIC?

I entered university because I wanted to reskill. At my former job, I became concerned by how management decisions were being made instinctually, rather than based on figures and data. I decided that I wanted to learn about data-based decision making at the systems level.

I did not feel sufficiently challenged by my studies at the Faculty of Economics alone, so I decided that I would take additional courses about data science and AI management at other universities, apart from those held by AIC. Thanks to these courses, I gained insights on how data analysis and AI can be applied to business. This knowledge linked up with my experience working on the DX Team, and has greatly increased my understanding of the field. If I had entered university at the usual age, I don’t think I would have been able to take courses at other universities online for free, and probably would not have had any contact with an organization like AIC. Things were different back then. I am glad that I became a university student later than usual, because, as a result, I have had access to more learning opportunities than would have been available otherwise.

In my graduation thesis, I plan to use the statistical methods I have learned to analyze the effect of paternity leave on gender equality in the workplace.

Tell us about AIC’s allure!

I think that AIC’s biggest charm is that, because it is a gathering of like-minded and highly-motivated peers, we learn from each other through mutual encouragement and by working collaboratively.

Before I joined the DX Team in July 2024, I could barely write any code. Now, however, I’ve learned how to use new programming languages, and all of the psychological barriers I had felt around programming have disappeared. This is all thanks to the talented people at AIC. People are always willing to help when you’re lost, there’s always someone on hand to give you new ideas, and just looking at people sitting at their desk working diligently is an inspiration to work even harder. It’s because of this kind of environment that I was able to grow into someone capable of producing quality work in no time at all.

Another aspect of the allure of AIC is that it offers many opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.

As a Faculty of Economics student at the AIC, I am in the minority. However, there have been many occasions where I learned things at AIC that I could not have learned at the Faculty of Economics—this knowledge also proved useful in my economics studies, and the reverse is true as well. I particularly recommend that those with a humanities or social science background come to AIC to learn a thing or two, as this is a great way to become a bit more well-rounded.

Could you tell us about your vision for the future?

My goal for the near-term is to use the skills I have learned at AIC’s DX Team to contribute to the further digitalization of Japan. Working to digitalize processes in my immediate vicinity has made me keen to work on larger-scale projects.

Japan still has a long way to go when it comes to digitalization—it placed 31st out of 67 countries in the 2024 Digital Competitiveness Rankings. In other words, there are still many opportunities to advance digitalization. I still haven’t decided exactly what sort of job I’d like to do, but I do know that I want to make the most of everything I’ve learned during my time as a student. I’d also like to spread the word about the value of reskilling. 

I was unable to attend university at the usual age for personal reasons, but because I didn’t give up, and was able to go back to school, many more opportunities will be open to me in the future. My studies were not limited to university. Especially because I was able to learn about IT and AI at AIC, I know that the knowledge I have accumulated during my time as a student will be a great asset to me in the future.