To everyone who has chosen our university
"I will create the future of our region." This is the catchphrase of the Faculty of International Studies, but how do you feel when you hear this phrase? Some of you may think, "That sounds a bit difficult," "Can I really do that?", or "Why would the Faculty of International Studies even be thinking about the region?" In fact, I myself had a similar impression when I first started working at this university.
However, my perception changed dramatically as I learned alongside everyone in various settings both inside and outside the university. My feeling that it would be "difficult" turned into "enjoyable," and I came to feel that collaborating with local people was more important than working hard on my own. I realized that the reason the Faculty of International Studies focuses on local communities is because practices in our immediate surroundings are directly linked to peace in the international community. In other words, the way we coexist and build trust in our communities is the foundation for peace and cooperation in the international community.
Based on the above perspectives, our university values "glocal learning," which connects the local community with the global community, and "interdisciplinary learning," which addresses challenges across disciplines. The Faculty of International Studies has six courses: English Communication, International Studies, Management, Psychology and Human Culture, School Education, and Early Childhood Education and Care. Students can acquire expertise in their respective fields while learning in glocal settings across courses. We hope that through this process, each student will discover what they can do.
The world is at a major turning point. Will the next 100 years be an era filled with division and conflict, or an era of cooperation and peace in which everyone can live happily? We stand at that crossroads.
Each of your individual learning and practical actions in your local communities will lead to a better future for the international community. Let's believe in that possibility and walk together.
Professor and Dean of the School of International and Area Studies
Takashi Nishidate