Column ②

About the future of Japanese universities In order not to be left behind by the world's leading universities

　Although it is relative, it is said that the international status of Japanese universities is declining, but in the future, I think that we should cooperate with each other, including international expansion, rather than competing between universities. I am.

　For example, at an international conference where the presidents of the world gather, the University of Tokyo, Waseda, and Keio say, "We want to do this together, so why don't we do it together?"Isn't it easier for them to listen?Not only in the reform of university entrance exams, but in the current Japanese education world, it is easy to have negative discussions because of the declining birthrate, but it is a way to think positively while preparing for the worst, and to cooperate with moderation from the world's perspective. Isn't it much more constructive to ask for?

　By the way, at an international conference, when asked "What is the most important job of the president in Corona?", Many Asian presidents including Japan answered "student education", while Western presidents. Many answered "getting money".In fact, many universities have already collected trillions of yen at a time and are operating them.However, for example, Keio's attempt to participate in such competition is like the average Japanese running for financial tech aiming for XNUMX% of the world's wealthy people, and even if they try, they should aim for it. No.I think Japanese universities have their own way of trying to make good things by keeping moderation and working together.

Education reform across disciplines

　At Keio, we consider high-level students, faculty, and staff to be the greatest treasures, but I would like to firmly connect these three to the side and carry out various reforms.It also produces academic achievements that the world praises, and is accurate for global issues such as energy issues and security in Asia, as well as domestic issues such as economic support in the Corona disaster and backward support for the digitization of society. I would like to make a proposal.Of course, in the process, it is desirable that various opinions are born, as Professor Fukuzawa said, "Multiple Controversy" * 3.It makes students aware of their different perspectives, broadens their horizons, and helps them design new societies.

　In the world of academic research, there is a conspicuous movement to unleash the specialized barriers that have been deepened by the 20th century, such as the fusion of literary sciences and interdisciplinary research, and to create new comprehensive knowledge across different fields.Education has also been aligned, and the review of liberal arts and the advocacy of new concepts such as STEAM have begun.

　Therefore, one of the reforms is the cooperation of faculty members with students in the center and the expansion of cross-disciplinary learning that it induces.With the implementation of the leading doctoral program, faculty members who have achieved excellent research achievements and are willing to reform are collaborating through students and promoting collaboration across organizations.For example, even in a medical school project, students can learn from multiple faculty members beyond organizational boundaries, such as learning from law faculty members about life ethics and handling of personal information, and from science and engineering faculty members about AI. I am.

　Teachers with a high degree of specialization will be connected side by side, centered on students.When a student asks for advice for future social design as a personal matter, the faculty member can also face and respond to it and improve his / her specialty.Currently, there is lively discussion among faculty members on how to promote cooperation and collaboration beyond the organization, including the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC), but if the number of faculty members who cooperate increases, the specialty of faculty members will become more than ever. I hope that it will be possible to draw out and that the level of education and research of the entire university will definitely improve.In order to maximize the power of Keio, there is an option to create an organization or faculty that will be a flagship that is easy to understand from the outside, but for the time being, we would like to implement this trend in undergraduate education and accelerate it.For reform, it is also important for students to cooperate as they are directly involved in their future.

"Half-school half-education" again

　There is another reason to put the student in the middle.Due to the rapid changes in technology, the number of students who have acquired higher skills and abilities than teachers in ICT and students who have a high awareness of the global environment, which can be called a sustainability native, has increased, so it is taught as a teacher. This is because the division of sides is becoming less meaningful.Of course, we are not denying learning from faculty members about universal scholarship such as good literature and philosophy.However, it is certain that the time has come when the philosophy of "half-school and half-education" * XNUMX, which is the spirit of Keio University, will be put to good use again.

　At the AI ​​/ Advanced Programming Consortium, which was launched two years ago, students who are familiar with AI and who are good at programming have begun trying to teach other students. Those whose technology evolves day by day, such as AI, are difficult to become subjects because they are not systematized as academic disciplines.However, internships at companies sometimes require programming ability.We can expect a synergistic effect of bridging the gap between academics and business skills by having students learn from each other.

　So far, government-led measures have been launched one after another for university education reform, but such reforms that we are advancing are different from that.Just as the quantum computer research * XNUMX that we started has spread to the University of Tokyo, I hope that such reforms will spread to other universities in the future.

Creating new lessons and new campuses beyond standardization

　The corona wreck has exposed various problems in education, and education for post-corona is now at a major turning point.Under these circumstances, it is also important how to deal with standardization and standardization.Japan, which has thoroughly standardized education since the Meiji era, has been the driving force for high economic growth, such as becoming the top in the global academic ability test after the war.However, in a period of change like today, too much attention to it can delay reform.

　In private universities (Japan Association of Private Universities), how far can face-to-face lessons be replaced with online lessons as "The ideal way of universities in the post-corona era-realization of new learning utilizing digital" (July 2021)? We summarized the recommendations about and showed the direction of new university education.It is doubtful whether it is appropriate to establish a uniform rule in the first place.

　For example, if a person in the fieldwork shows the observation target on a computer terminal and the person in the classroom goes on with the lesson saying "Please move this way further", is this online? It is difficult to judge whether it is face-to-face.When trying new things, sticking to standardization is a hindrance.

　From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era, when there were people who regarded the West as a barbarian over the opening of the country, we also looked to the future and pursued the essence of education, just as Professor Fukuzawa brought in Western studies with great courage. I want to go.From April next year, we plan to hold full face-to-face lessons, but not all will return to the front of Corona.For example, for an experimental class in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, I had previously suggested watching an explanatory video in advance, but now this is also possible.In the future, I would like to actively create new classes and campuses with teachers and students. For the second year students who have not been able to live a normal campus for a year and a half, I would like to continue to encourage them as "people who will create new campuses".

Message to examinees

　Recently, the influence of cram schools and parents has become stronger in selecting the school of choice, and everyone feels that it is difficult to break the shell.However, in the future, it is none other than everyone who will create a bright, enjoyable and prosperous society.Please avoid making choices that will leave you regret in the future.Sometimes you can do it without going to college.You may also have the option of wandering through your first choice.

　The intellect and imagination that assume the worst will be nurtured from high school.I also want teamwork to be important.It is essential to move forward and overcome difficulties.In order to create a new society together with everyone, we must be a person who is supported by others, in other words, a "blessed winner", but to do so, we must experience a lot of things that seem wasteful.Waste always helps something in life, and no one follows it.Then, we should discuss various social issues positively without giving up, "It is useless as it is" and "Why don't we create such a society?"

　At Keio University, which has high-quality faculty members, as I mentioned above, faculty members are also collaborating with each other.As with any university, we will do our best to create a better environment for you.