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Helping people to "live well" education businesses
Benesse's corporate philosophy is based on the idea of helping each individual to 'live well,' and the Group's education business lies at the heart of our efforts to achieve this goal. Under the Group's new business structure, Benesse is working to strengthen its education-related businesses, including both correspondence courses and businesses aimed at schools.
In the correspondence course business, Benesse has developed two main product segments - the Kodomo Challenge series of courses aimed at young children, and Shinkenzemi courses for students in each grade from primary school through high school. The Company maintains a dominant position in the market for correspondence courses, throughout Japan. In addition to traditional, "paper-based" correspondence course materials, Benesse has developed the revolutionary new "+i" series of correspondence courses which use internet-based instructional materials as well. The Company has already launched courses for junior high school students, and intends to continue making revisions to its products and business model to adapt to a changing society.
In the Company's businesses aimed at schools, Benesse has developed products such as Shinken Simulated Exams (tests that simulate university entrance exams) and Study Support, which helps students plan their educational path. Benesse products and services are currently in use at roughly 82.3% of all high schools in Japan. In the future, the Company will take steps to reach an even higher percentage of students, and try to foster a desire among young people to improve themselves, by helping them to enjoy their studies and take pride in their sense of accomplishment.
Overseas Expansion and Developing New Products and Service
Benesse is pursuing opportunities in markets that can expect growth over the medium-to-long term. For example, it is making an effort to expand its overseas operations and moving into the field of international education. The Company is working to strengthen its brand name, building on the success of the correspondence courses it has been operating in Taiwan, South Korea and mainland China.
Benesse has also entered the market for language education and international education, on a full scale. From 2011, Japan will introduce compulsory English language courses at the elementary school level. This, and the steadily increasing importance of internationalization, has prompted Benesse to develop new products and services which will help children begin learning English at a very young age, and help older children to develop the skills and mindset needed to function effectively in an international environment.
The thought of the Benesse group for the education-related business
Finally, to address the increasingly diverse educational needs of young people, and to offer broader support to students so that they can take greater enjoyment in their studies, Benesse has begun to develop a network of prep schools (juku). Since 2006, the Company has acquired Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, Inc., and Tetsuryokukai. These new Group subsidiaries have helped Benesse to diversify its education business. By consolidating the know-how derived from both our traditional education business and these new prep school operations, the Company hopes to develop greater synergy in its education business and improve the quality of its educational products and services.
