Chiba University of Commerce will reorganize all faculties from April 2025. The new course, "Seminar on Your Own Future," will be a compulsory subject for first-year students. Associate Professor Yohei Tsunemi, who proposed the course, hopes that it will be a catalyst for moving forward not only for students but the entire university. We asked him about the background to the creation of the seminar and his commitment to creating classes.
What I wanted to create was an "after-school classroom"
The Jibun Mirai Seminar is a place where first-year students from all faculties think about their university life and their future. It is also a place to hone the communication skills that will be necessary in the future. First-year students are divided into classes of 1 students across the boundaries of faculties and departments. There are more than 1 teachers in charge, which shows that Chiba University of Commerce is putting a lot of effort into it.
The impetus for establishing the subject came from a comment made by Associate Professor Tsunemi at a meeting held in 2022 to consider the future direction of the university.
"When I suggested that we should have something like a university-wide seminar where students would sit in a circle and talk about their futures and student life, the vice president who was the chair of my group at the time praised it highly. The president and other faculty and staff were also enthusiastic. As the originator of the idea, I was put in charge of creating the seminar, and we began making it a reality in 2023."
Reflecting on his own university life, his experience working in human resources at a company in recruiting, and his work as a part-time lecturer in career education at another university, Associate Professor Tsunemi felt that university students needed a place like an "after-school classroom."
"I get the impression that today's university students are pressed for time. Even if they want to increase their opportunities to interact with students from other departments, many of them are unable to do so because they aren't in any clubs or are busy with part-time jobs. As a result, I have seen some people not enjoy their university life. If there was an environment where they could talk openly with students from other departments, I think it would broaden their horizons and increase the number of their friends. How can we create a place like an after-school classroom where people can talk freely? We created Jibun Mirai Seminar while exploring this issue."
We also insisted on making it a required course in the first year.
"I want to let students know that there are many options both inside and outside of school before they create their own model for university life. In the class, we cover things that may seem obvious but that no one has ever taught you, such as how to build relationships and how to balance university life with part-time work. We made it a compulsory course for first-year students so that they would have the knowledge and skills they need to live at our university."
A catalyst for the entire university to move forward
In the Jibun Mirai Seminar, group discussions are held while themes are presented using original video materials. The themes are diverse, including how to avoid trouble in university life, how to use time, knowledge about money, and communication skills. The videos also introduce stories of failure and real-life experiences of seniors, making the themes feel personal.
"We also cover themes such as what society will be like in the future and what it means to work. We've included interviews with a variety of people in the videos. Some people give the frank answer that they "work for money." At first glance, this may sound dry, but it could also be said that they are realizing their goals outside of their main job. In a society where various lifestyles are now possible, such as working a side job or devoting oneself to a hobby, we hope that this will serve as an opportunity to think about how they want to live their lives in the future."
In addition, the teachers are not in a position to teach, but rather act as facilitators to stimulate discussion. In addition, one staff supporter will participate in each class. Student assistants will also participate and deepen the discussion.
"For staff, it's an opportunity to find out what students think and how they react, as well as the teaching skills of faculty members. In addition, because both faculty and students can acquire the skills for active learning, other lectures may become more lively. As a result, I think the entire university will move forward, and the atmosphere on campus should become brighter."
When asked what skills they would like to develop through the Jibun Mirai Seminar, they responded, "I want them to be enthusiastic about university life."
"We think it's fine for people to participate in the Jibun Mirai Seminar as if it were a kind of club. The after-school classes are fun, and it's a place where we can talk openly about anything. You can hear perspectives that you don't have, and you can realize that there are many different options.
As a result, we hope to see changes such as more friends, more options for the future, being able to open up about oneself, and no longer laughing at other people's dreams. More teachers and staff will know about them, and they will be more excited about university life. That's why, at the end of the Jibun Mirai Seminar, the class will hold a presentation of their plans for university life. The aim is for them to take action to realize their own plans after learning about the diverse choices their peers have made."
It's okay if you can't find your dreams or goals
The Jibun Mirai Seminar has also been popular at open campus events. In some cases, the results of a follow-up survey showed 100% satisfaction.
"Through the open campus, I learned that many high school students and their parents think that 'you have to have dreams and goals and go to university.' I think it's fine for some people to think about going to university because they can't find a dream or goal. You can find the specific things you want to study and your life goals within the university. That's why there is a need for a place where students can talk to each other. There's no need to think that you have to pursue your dreams, or that it's uncool not to have dreams. I want students to enroll with peace of mind and enjoy their university life. To that end, I want to make Jibun Mirai Seminar a class that they can look back on with a smile even after they graduate."
Chiba University of Commerce, Faculty of International Liberal Arts
Professor Yohei Tsunemi
Associate Professor, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Chiba University of Commerce. Graduated from the Faculty of Commerce, Hitotsubashi University in 1997. After working at Recruit Co., Ltd., Bandai Co., Ltd., and Quality of Life Co., Ltd., he became a full-time lecturer at the Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Chiba University of Commerce in April 2015. He will be an associate professor at the same university in March 4 and an associate professor at the Institute for Basic Education in April 2020.
