Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio Gijuku, advocated and practiced the idea of 'no distinction between men and women' throughout his life. For example, in 1870, a time when remnants of the feudal system were still strong, he stated, ""There is no reason for men and women, as equally human beings under heaven and earth, to be treated with different degrees of importance"" (from ""Nakatsu Ritsubetsu no Sho"").
The society we aim for in the future is one where all individuals, regardless of gender, can utilize their abilities and gain joy and sustenance through mutual cooperation. Furthermore, it is a significant mission for Keio Gijuku to realize an academic institution open to motivated and capable individuals, regardless of differences such as gender, lifestyle, culture, tradition, nationality, or economic background, based on its tradition of independence and self-respect.
In this 21st century, humanity faces the critical challenge of sustaining the global environment and the society in which we live. Today, as Japan and the world stand at a major turning point in this era, Keio Gijuku must grow and evolve further to provide effective solutions to this problem and to cultivate leaders who can spearhead these efforts. To solve increasingly complex social issues, it is essential to bring together diverse human wisdom. However, traditionally, in educational, research, and medical institutions, as in many other fields, men have predominantly played central roles, and social systems and customs have supported this fact. From now on, we believe it is crucial to replace this gender-based structure with a dynamic structure built on the coordination and collaboration of individual differences. Furthermore, it is expected that all individuals involved in education, research, and healthcare will fully demonstrate their individuality and abilities, stimulate each other, and contribute to society as a whole as a treasure trove of knowledge. Only when diverse intellects come together will it be possible to solve the problems we face today. Based on this philosophy, Keio Gijuku aims to play a pioneering role.
Inheriting Yukichi Fukuzawa's aspiration since its founding to ""be a leader for all of society,"" Keio Gijuku aims to present diverse leadership models that actively lead the future and to cultivate individuals suitable for these roles. While acknowledging gender differences, Keio Gijuku strongly aims to become an academic institution that fosters collaboration among diverse and excellent intellects and sensibilities, without reverting to old structures of fixed division of labor, and produces individuals who contribute to society.
Furthermore, Keio Gijuku considers itself a social entity capable of profoundly influencing the thoughts of various people and the state of society as an educational, research, and medical institution.
Therefore, as a responsible educational, research, and medical institution, we believe it is necessary to create a social and institutional environment where individuals engaged in educational, research, and medical activities can fully exercise their capabilities.
To cultivate individuals equipped with both ""the ability to live independently"" and ""the ability to live cooperatively,"" and to make responsible contributions not only domestically but also internationally, Keio Gijuku aims to build a foundation for gender equality. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the realization of a permanently sustainable society, and hereby present the Basic Plan for Gender Equality.
Basic Plan for Gender Equality
A) Development of a Campus Environment that Leads a Gender-Equal Society
B) Support for Balancing Education, Research, Medical Care, Employment/Study, and Family Life
C) Development of Gender Equality Initiatives for the Next Generation
D) Co-creation with Society and Local Communities
E) Development of a System for Establishing Gender Equality
A) Development of a Campus Environment that Leads a Gender-Equal Society
With the goal of fostering diverse leaders capable of ""leading the future,"" Keio Gijuku aims to form a Keio-wide consensus base on gender equality and to promptly and appropriately develop the necessary campus environment.
Consideration of gender balance in all decision-making processes within Keio Gijuku.
Establishment of gender equality branch offices on each campus to disseminate and concretize the fundamental principles and basic plan for gender equality throughout Keio Gijuku.
Survey and publication of awareness, needs, and actual conditions regarding gender equality; collection, organization, analysis, and publication of materials related to gender equality at Keio Gijuku, scattered both within and outside the institution.
Identification and efforts to remove factors hindering gender equality from existing systems and practices within Keio Gijuku.
Development of facilities and improvement of the environment suitable for a campus that leads a gender-equal society.
Regular review of the ""General Employer Action Plan based on the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising the Next Generation"" and revision of various systems related to gender equality.
B) Support for Balancing Education, Research, Medical Care, Employment/Study, and Family Life
Based on the fundamental principles of gender equality, Keio Gijuku aims to consider and implement facilities and systems necessary to support faculty, staff, and students in balancing work/study and family life.
Consideration of facilities and systems to provide childcare that meets the diverse needs of faculty, staff, and students.
Collection and dissemination of support information for pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and nursing care, and establishment of an environment that enables related consultations.
Continuation and expansion of existing support services for female researchers, such as sick child care support and temporary childcare support.
Development of an information support environment for work-life balance utilizing IT.
Establishment of career advice and counseling systems by experts.
Development of systems for all faculty and staff to continue their careers during life events such as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and nursing care, as well as leave and workload reduction systems tailored to diverse needs.
C) Development of Gender Equality Initiatives for the Next Generation
Keio Gijuku aims to consider and implement initiatives to instill the principles of gender equality in the next generation.
Establishment of learning and research opportunities related to gender equality for students in university and graduate school lectures, and in classes at integrated education schools.
Deepening mutual exchange with universities, graduate schools, and integrated education schools to foster a common understanding of the principles and nature of gender equality across generations.
Career development support in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and medical fields where the proportion of female students and researchers is low.
Career development support for male nursing students and male nursing researchers.
D) Co-creation with Society and Local Communities
In cooperation with the Keio community and the Office for Regional and Social Collaboration, Keio Gijuku aims to build a diverse, multifaceted, and mutually beneficial community foundation for social contribution with local governments, private companies, NPOs, and other organizations and individuals who share the principles and values of gender equality, and to consider and implement measures that can broadly contribute to society regarding gender equality.
Strengthening collaboration with other universities and universities/organizations in other countries on the theme of gender equality.
Regular and continuous holding of seminars, symposiums, and other events on gender equality for local communities and society.
Preparation of regular reports on gender equality, public disclosure of information to society and local communities, and implementation of awareness-raising activities.
E) Development of a System for Establishing Gender Equality
To systematically implement this basic plan, Keio Gijuku aims to review progress, clarify responsible departments, set priority issues, and concretize and refine action plans for each initiative, thereby considering and realizing Keio Gijuku's leadership in forming a gender-equal society in Japan.
Annual progress review, clarification of responsible departments and concretization of initiatives, and formulation of action plans for the current and subsequent fiscal years.
Solicitation of opinions from Keio Gijuku faculty and staff regarding the formulation and operation of policies related to gender equality.
Close collaboration with relevant departments to establish a gender equality system and implement effective and efficient measures.
Public disclosure of activity evaluations for initiatives aimed at achieving gender equality.