Notes from the President's Office No. 16: Telling Resonant Stories to Guide Society in the Right Direction
June 8, 2023
Kohei Ito, President, Keio University
In recent years, the global situation has changed dramatically. The idea that making good products guarantees global sales is a thing of the past. In the so-called era of 'things' (mono), where everyone sought to improve their lives, making good cars and electronics would lead to global sales. However, we are now in an era of 'narratives and stories.' It has become crucial to frame 'what we should do' and 'what we should not do,' such as the SDGs, as compelling stories, and to create products that align with this context to encourage behavioral change. In addition to accumulating knowledge, the ability to tell the right story and deliver resonant public speaking is now being tested.
Recently, Keio University has entered into a business partnership with READYFOR Inc. This is to recruit supporters for the 'stories' of our faculty, staff, researchers, and the Athletic Association through Keio University-endorsed crowdfunding, in addition to traditional donations.
Crowdfunding allows for the wide sharing of information via the internet. This creates opportunities not only for our regular supporters but also for new people to support the 'stories' of our faculty, staff, researchers, and the activities of the Athletic Association. Furthermore, we can expect a ripple effect as more people reach out to their friends and acquaintances through networks like social media and email.
With crowdfunding, we can share the progress of projects with our supporters in real time. This allows them to see how their contributions are making a difference. Supporters can also post comments of encouragement, deepening communication with the project leaders. In the first project on the Keio University-endorsed crowdfunding platform, "Research on Intractable Neurological Diseases Through a Fusion of Basic and Clinical Science: Accelerating Research to Overcome ALS" (led by Professor Hideyuki Okano of the Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, with Project Lecturer Satoru Morimoto), Professor Okano is personally replying to each and every message.
Indeed, the greatest feature of crowdfunding is its ability to foster a virtuous cycle. By widely publicizing their projects and research to society, researchers can understand how their work is perceived and, in turn, meet the expectations of their supporters.
Your support will enable us to further contribute to the development of education, research, medical care, and our Athletic Association. Keio University has contributed to the development of many sports in Japan, and our Karate Club, established in 1924 as the first of its kind in the world, has also launched a crowdfunding campaign . In the future, we will be sharing stories from very unique research fields and from our Athletic Association as they compete nationally and globally. We would be grateful if you would understand and share Keio University's stories and activities aimed at solving social issues through the READYFOR Inc. platform. We sincerely thank you for your warm support and understanding.