FOURDIGIT collaborated with the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to conduct a service design bootcamp for students.

 

This marked the first time FOURDIGIT had delivered its service design education program in Malaysia. Over four days from July 27 to 30, 2026—a total of 32 hours—participants learned the principles of service design and gained hands-on experience with the entire process, from research and ideation to service development and presentation.

Since 2024, FOURDIGIT has partnered with universities and educational institutions in Thailand to offer service design education programs. The program delivered at MJIIT was approved under the FY2026 Endowed Course Program of the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) as part of FOURDIGIT’s broader efforts to develop talent across Southeast Asia.

 

AOTS is an organization dedicated to contributing to the mutual economic development of Japan and other countries through the development of industrial talent in Japan and overseas. Through its Endowed Course Program, AOTS works with universities and other educational institutions to support the development of industry-ready talent with practical skills.

 

MJIIT develops engineers with practical capabilities through an engineering education model that integrates Japanese-style theory and practice. Service design—which begins with understanding challenges from the user’s perspective and connects those insights with business and technology to envision new services—is closely aligned with MJIIT’s educational approach. This shared philosophy led to the implementation of the program.

 

FOURDIGIT established its Malaysian subsidiary in 2023 as part of its efforts to strengthen its business foundation in Southeast Asia. Through this initiative, the company aims to equip the next generation of students with service design mindsets and practical methods while further deepening its relationships with educational institutions in Malaysia.

Ten MJIIT students took part in the bootcamp, which was facilitated by two FOURDIGIT instructors who also teach the company’s service design courses in Thailand.

 

Centered on the theme “An Onboarding Solution for First-Year University Students,” the four-day, 32-hour program guided participants step by step through the complete service design process. Activities ranged from introductory lectures on service design to simulated user research, persona development, user journey mapping, ideation, service concept development, scenario creation, and final presentations.

 

On the final day, the students formed two teams and presented the service concepts they had developed. Ryo Taguchi, CEO of FOURDIGIT, and FOURDIGIT Malaysia UX Designer Hiraoka provided feedback on each team’s proposal.

Building on this initiative, FOURDIGIT will continue to deepen its collaboration with MJIIT and explore opportunities to offer the service design education program on an ongoing basis.

 

FOURDIGIT also aims to create a model in which students who have completed the program help facilitate and support future cohorts, allowing what they have learned to be passed on to the next generation of participants. The company will also explore further engagement with students through internships and other opportunities, contributing to the development of the next generation of digital and design talent in Malaysia.

“Through this bootcamp, the students not only gained knowledge of service design, but also developed the ability to collaborate with peers from different disciplines, approach challenges from the user’s perspective, and turn ideas into tangible solutions. It was particularly rewarding to see them grow more engaged as the program progressed—actively exchanging views and presenting their ideas with increasing confidence.

 

“By learning from FOURDIGIT’s practical expertise and working across disciplinary boundaries, the students gained valuable experience that will help them address complex social and business challenges in the future.”

“Interest in design thinking and the use of design is growing across Southeast Asia, but opportunities to learn service design through hands-on programs remain limited.

 

“At FOURDIGIT, we design the learning experience itself so that students can participate easily, relate the subject matter to their own lives, and engage proactively. As we saw in Thailand, the students in Malaysia impressed us with the enthusiasm they brought to the program—sharing their thoughts freely, enjoying the process, and generating one idea after another.

 

“We are also encouraged to see learning beginning to connect across borders, with participants from the program in Thailand supporting students in Malaysia. Through initiatives like this, we hope to continue contributing to talent development in Japan and Southeast Asia.”

As Southeast Asia’s digital economy grows, there is an increasing need for professionals who can develop services by bringing together business, technology, and design. Yet opportunities to study service design through hands-on experience remain limited at the educational level.

 

To share the expertise it has gained through professional service design practice and apply it to talent development, FOURDIGIT has been partnering with universities and educational institutions across Southeast Asia since 2024. In 2026, the company expanded these initiatives by providing design programs at eight universities in Thailand and Malaysia.

 

FOURDIGIT will continue to draw on the service design expertise it has developed in Japan and Southeast Asia and collaborate with educational institutions to help cultivate the next generation of digital and design talent.

Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT)

 

The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) is an education and research institution within Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

 

・Dean: Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain

・Address: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

・Website: https://mjiit.utm.my/

・Established: 2010