I want to talk about freedom, responsibility, and dialogue again.
Juichi Yamagiwa (President of Kyoto University):Since students play a leading role in universities, the university as a whole is promoting educational reforms from the student's perspective, but the concept of freedom is important here. It is said that the founding of Kyoto University in 1897 was deeply involved in the then Minister of Education, Nishizonoji, but he said, "In Kyoto, which is far from the political center of Tokyo, he pursues true learning from free and fresh ideas. It seems that he thought that a university different from the University of Tokyo should be created as the second imperial university.
It was especially about creating a university with a free academic style that allowed different ideas.I don't think this has anything to do with his nine years of studying abroad in the free-spirited France of the 19th century.The typical academic style of freedom is the Faculty of Law, and unlike universities such as the University of Tokyo and Chuo University, where passing the national exam was the highest priority, Kyoto University emphasized seminars and legal research rather than taking the national exam. ..However, there are still episodes of criticism from bureaucrats and politicians, who have begun to challenge the national examination for a while.
Hiroji Kinoshita, the first president who inherited the will of Saizonoji, wants to create a base that cultivates academics that doubt the world, question the various common senses that govern it, and clarify the mechanism of the world. Advocates "self-respect for self-weight" as the philosophy of Kyoto University.When he was the president of the University of Tokyo, he advised the dormitory students who often broke discipline, saying, "Give you freedom. So make your own decisions and decide what to do." ..I think he knew that freedom and self-determination made students aware of their responsibilities.
I think freedom means that you can decide what you want to do, but that comes with responsibility.Responsibility is "responsiveness to others", and always be aware of how others see you.Or, expanding one's freedom also deprives others of their freedom, so think about the balance.And since it is the responsibility of those who act on freedom to be aware of it, I think it is necessary to convey this to current students who have little chance of becoming aware of this from the beginning.
It should also be remembered that "dialogue" is necessary before being free. "Promoting self-study and self-study based on dialogue" is the academic style of freedom, and under that, "cultivating outstanding knowledge inheritance and creative spirit" is required of Kyoto University students.You must not lose dialogue just by advocating freedom.
Looking back on the past year
Juichi Yamagiwa (President of Kyoto University):The "Kyoto University Student Challenge Contest" (SPEC) started in December 2015 as an initiative for the leading role of students.Make interesting plans for individuals and groups, and ask them to make suggestions.Not only academics, but also a wide range of activities such as culture, arts, sports, and volunteers are targeted, and the plans are examined by faculty members, excellent ones are posted on the WEB page, and donations are solicited from citizens by crowdfunding.In the maximum of 12 years, not only the final report but also the interim report will be made on the WEB.It is very important for students to have the experience of working hard among students and responding to their feelings, not by authority, but by the citizens' desire to recognize and support them, and I think it will lead to the development of entrepreneurship.
The other is the "Kyoto University Omoro Challenge" (Kyoto University Experience-based Overseas Travel Support System-Ding Association Program) that started in April.This is a study abroad program that mainly uses summer vacation, and instead of choosing from predetermined courses, you do everything from planning to negotiations with foreign countries and obtaining visas.If the proposal is submitted and approved, a scholarship will be provided by the Dingkai (a support group for the president by the top of the OB business world) with a maximum of 30 yen per person.This year, 30 people were selected from more than XNUMX applicants.The background of these projects, which I talked about last year as the WINDOW concept, is the idea that universities should not be just a place to give knowledge.
For students, college is no longer a place to gain knowledge.They think that knowledge is available everywhere and that the Internet is better than college.Therefore, I have to develop the ability to think, to verify myself, to be able to make self-determination, especially from my experience of fieldwork, to develop crisis management ability.For that purpose, it is also necessary to jump out of the university window to the outside world.
The special entrance examination, which started from the selection of new students this year, started with a capacity of 108 people, and the number of applicants was 816, the number of successful applicants was 82, and the number of new students was 81.There were few applicants in the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Agriculture, but in recent years there have been many applications from high schools that have not entered the university, and some have passed.In addition, the ratio of girls is high, and it is evaluated that it has contributed to the diversification of enrollees.There were many applications from schools that are enthusiastic about inquiry learning, and I think that the purpose of connecting high school learning to university learning was well understood.
In addition, it seems that there were many applicants who were actively engaged in various activities, and I think that each faculty was able to acquire the students who had been requested in advance.In addition, it seems that there were relatively many applications from the Kanto area. Toward 29, we expanded the departments to be implemented, consolidated the application period, and relaxed the application requirements. Some faculties have revised the wording "participation in various international science Olympiads, etc." to create a misunderstanding that the hurdles are high.In addition, regarding high school, graduate students and postdocs are dispatched directly to the requested high school, or when visiting Kyoto University, the "learning coordinator project" that introduces university research, Omoroi teachers , We are also focusing on ELCAS (Global Science Campus Project), which gives special lectures to high school students on weekends and teaches experiments.
Juichi Yamagiwa (President of Kyoto University)
