Message from President to New Students

President Yoichi Kawanami (full text)

　Congratulations to the 498 new students who have enrolled in Shimonoseki City University. This year, we were able to welcome 465 students in the undergraduate program, 12 international students, 18 transferred students, and 3 new students to the graduate master's program. I would like to express my sincere welcome to all of you who have been enrolled in our university with hope.

　I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the parents of new students and their families. In the course of long studying for entrance examinations, it seems that there have been various difficulties, such as difficulty in studying well, having trouble with my career path, and being sick, but this time I will be able to go through the gate of the university, so I have no choice but to say congratulations. I would like to express my respect for both physical and mental support so far, and I hope that you will be able to watch your child's growth with a warm gaze while keeping a little unrelenting. This college student, from the end of a teenager to the beginning of the twenties, is a process of independence in which humans acquire a variety of knowledge, gain various experiences, and grow while meeting many people and books. Our university officials want to do their utmost to be a reliable educational institution in the process of growing students as an independent person while encountering various difficulties.

　It is regrettable and sorry that we had to cancel the entrance ceremony this year due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection, which is rampant both in Japan and around the world. The entrance ceremony is a necessary opportunity for students who are full of admiration and ambitious for more advanced academic disciplines to make a new start on the stage of university education, but it was forced to make a difficult decision to avoid the risk of the spread of infectious diseases caused by the gathering of many people. It's a very heartfelt feeling. We had to change the schedule for orientation, medical examinations, placement tests, various briefings, and start of classes scheduled after the cancellation of the entrance ceremony, but as a university, we intend to take measures to ensure that education is not hindered.

　From now on, I would like to tell you one important thing when you study as a university student at OIST. It is an independent learning that strives to acquire a wide range of knowledge independently, thinks with one's own head, expresses those ideas in their own words, take responsibility for their claims and actions, and grow up as an independent person. To acquire an attitude of learning.
　At present, higher education in Japan is at a major turning point. The report of the Central Council for Education published in November 2019, "Grand Design for Higher Education toward 2040," states that a shift from education from a supplier's perspective to Gakumu Osamu-oriented education. This is an important report that proposes what kind of human resources need to be developed in current higher education, looking backward to 2040, 20 years from now, when rapid and complex changes are needed, considering backwardly. As modern society becomes more complex, diversified, and individualized, uncertainty and unpredictability in the world are increasing, and students' independent learning is in order to cultivate the ability of young people to independently pursue learning Osamu. The background is that it is becoming more important. Specifically, the following is emphasized as a human resource image required in 2040.
In other words,
・Having basic and universal knowledge, understanding and general-purpose skills
・The knowledge and skills can be utilized.
・He has communication skills, including overcoming the dilemma.
・Human resources capable of autonomously responsible actions
That's it. It is emphasized that in order to develop such human resources, it is necessary to shift from the perspective of what was learned and acquired, rather than "what taught" in higher education. By integrating education with students' independent learning, it is possible to develop human resources who are truly needed for society in the future. The university will respond while recognizing students as one adult, so you will make an effort to learn, act, and take responsibility in your own initiative in response to it. It is up to you.

　Students enrolled in the Master's Program will keep in mind that they will need more advanced and specialized knowledge in an even more complex society, and hope that they will strive to acquire a self-reliant spirit and independent inquisitive mind than a bachelor's degree program. At the time of completion of the course, I look forward to your great research with the aim of completing an excellent master's thesis that enhances your expertise to the ultimate goal.

　Finally, I would like to congratulate you on the entrance ceremony of Shimonoseki City University in 2020, hoping that your university life will be fruitful and rich.

April 6, 2020　　　　　　　　
KAWANAMI Yoichi, President, Shimonoseki City University