Toward a University with “Co-creative” Vitality

President, Ichiro Fujioka

I have recently received the honor of being appointed as the 5th President of Kyoto Sangyo University since our founder, Prof. Toschima Araki. While I have to admit that I am somewhat surprised by this appointment, I duly accept this role as head of this university, being charged with supporting the roles of all its members. There is a heavy responsibility placed on me to maintain the strong legacy built by Prof. Araki, successive Presidents, and the memories of over 120,000 graduates. Without reservation, I am firm in my resolve to see that our university becomes one that shines within education and research in Japan, and the world, in the 21st century.

In our country as it steers toward a knowledge based, multicultural and life-long learning society of the 21st century, the driving power of a spirit that respects truth, virtue and beauty for improvement in the quality of human nurturing is indispensible. As the structure of society heads toward a period of great reform, there are equally great and varied expectations and demands being place on universities to contribute toward solving social issues and training capable individuals. In what is referred to as the ‘Vision for the Future’ (Shouraizoutoushin, MEXT, 2005), we see exhibited the direction of separate facilities according to the individuality and special features of each university based on their independence and self-reliance. Further, in ‘Undergraduate Policies’ by MEXT, what is demanded is clarification of three policies for awarding diplomas, curriculum content and methods, and student admission. It is expected that there will be positive initiatives taken toward the reform and quality of tertiary education. For this reason, along with the falling population of 18 year olds, within the rise in the percentage of students progressing to university and the varying needs of those students, our university grapples daily with how to recruit good quality students, furthermore, how to foster current students to grow so that they can be sent out as socially responsible individuals.

Former President, Prof. Masanori Nitta, introduced the development of an “Open System”. Our last President, Prof. Toyoh Sakai, was engaged in creating new beginnings from past lessons and initiated a key phrase; “Establishing a University of Individualized Brilliance”, particularly through efforts over the past 5 years along with Registrar Prof. Masahisa Hirooka to implement policies in our university’s own Grand Design instigated in 2005. This Grand Design forms objectives for the university’s 50th anniversary, and along with various buds which shoulder the road ahead to the future of this university, it has left behind verifiable results of those academic facets. Of course, if we verify each of those policies and present conditions, there may be need for adjustments and applications. However, while responding to changes of the times, and understanding changes occurring also within the university, we should continue with policies set out in the Grand Design because it forms the foundation of the university which can not be dismantled as we look ahead to the next half century, and providing reform for education and research.

Nevertheless, we are answerable to the question posed by Prof. Sakai, of “Can we breathe our soul into the bud of a flower to make it bloom to its fullest?” For this reason, regarding the current state of the university, an outlook which focuses on the next half century is necessary and broader and deeper investigation into current education and research is required. Yet, at this stage without touching on individual fundamental policies of wide ranging education and research, I would like to complete as soon as possible, reinvestigation, coordination, human and material maintenance of the many policies and systems, and while ascertaining on and off campus trends, intend to present new policies.

However, I believe that development of Top-Up & Bottom-UP Policy Making Methods which occur in education and research fields are necessary as fundamental policies. For example, when thinking about connections which occur in education between specialized fundamental education at undergraduate level and specialist education at graduate school level, we must make firm the content of refined education which forms this basis. This is because I think that there is a lack of fostering in students’ self-confidence, dreams and pride as the pre-requisites of study and research. What is necessary is the bringing together of knowledge, wisdom, experience by staff, as well as current and past students of this university. By enriching education, enrichment of research can be concurrently planned. Having said that, an investigation of the current state of research organizations is necessary to insure even greater results.

Moreover, what is necessary is a scheme to increase, even more than until now, the fruits of the many activities found in extracurricular activities. This is not only so that we give confidence and pride to current students who have increased their results, but also to offer current students and staff appreciation and pride, and more than anything, provide members of our alumni with incentive and pride.

In any case, under the fierce competition between universities, what continues the reform is the normal state of each university in the country. Our university is of course no exception, and although we have only just begun this journey, radical educational reform to meet the needs of the time has become common place for our university. This being the case, we can only be a private university within this harsh environment through firm support from our alumni. Just how much incentive the great efforts of our alumni become to firstly our current students, but also others related to the university, are immeasurable. As one of the provisions of reform, we must assemble on-campus intellect, make our campus bright and brimming with vitality, raise individuals who can satisfy their responsibilities to society, and produce research results in answer to the needs of society. In order to mobilize this intellect, we need to acquire strength from mutual staff, students and alumni, and day by day cooperate to ‘Co-create’ a new Kyoto Sangyo University.

As I look at the road ahead for our university over the next half century, while embracing big dreams, in particular bringing together the many trials faced by our predecessors, show devotion to the university, and remind myself of the university’s current situation, I endeavor to gain, without regret, the understanding and cooperation of all members of the university so that we can face modern day issues. Bearing in mind the 50th Anniversary of the university in 5 years from now, at a time when we approach the next half century, I consider afresh the spirit of our founding President, Prof. Araki who set forth our “Founding Principles”, and I am conscious of the various issues underfoot that we must face, based on an outlook that lead us soundly toward becoming a university which stands tall upon the mountains of knowledge.