Keio Academic Enterprise

2020/04/30

Image: Business professionals studying at Keio MCC

Keio Academic Enterprise (hereinafter referred to as the Enterprise) is a stock company established on March 15, 1965 (Showa 40), with capital raised from Keio University and volunteers among Keio University alumni and faculty/staff. The purpose and spirit of its establishment are deeply related to the fact that the university's financial situation at the time was quite tight and the introduction of a mandatory retirement system (implemented from April 1968) was imminent. The creation of a stock company (originally named Keio Business Department) was decided as a measure to contribute financially, ensure the continuity of the university's operations after the introduction of the retirement system, and resolve labor issues for retirees (especially manual labor staff). Its articles of incorporation state, "The fundamental spirit shall be to contribute to the welfare of Keio University staff and the stability of their lives after retirement through the businesses and profits specified in Article 2."

After its establishment, at the request of the university, the Enterprise sequentially took over operations previously performed by university staff, such as cafeteria operations, accounting for real estate donated to the university, the acquisition of the southwest corner of the Mita Campus, and facility management support for various campuses, schools, and hospitals (including Ise and Tsukigase), including "night/day duty," "security," "pool management," "boilers," "cleaning," and other tasks. The company name was changed to Keio Shoji in August 1967, and then to Keio Academic Enterprise in February 1996 to develop new academic businesses, which it remains today. While adapting to the changes of the times, new businesses have been added in response to the demands of the era, and it currently operates the following five businesses.

1. Property Management Business: Currently supports the university's Office of Facilities and Property Management as the property management lead, focusing on facility management operations excluding the Shinanomachi and Fujisawa areas.

2. Insurance Business: Provides fire and casualty insurance for university buildings and general property, comprehensive student insurance (24-hour coverage during enrollment, applicable domestically and internationally), and welfare insurance for faculty and staff.

3. Keio Card Business: A credit card business started in January 1996 for Keio University alumni and faculty/staff. Profits are returned to the university.

4. Adult Education Business: Since October 2000, in collaboration and cooperation with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Keio Marunouchi City Campus (Keio MCC) was established in the Marunouchi area, providing adult education programs primarily for business professionals.

5. In December 2015, Keio Innovation Initiative (KII), a venture capital firm aimed at creating new businesses using the research results of Keio University and contributing to society and the development of the university's research, was established (the Enterprise provided capital and is the largest shareholder).

The environment surrounding Keio University has become a difficult era in which to determine what to do and how to do it in the future due to advances in science and technology such as IT, AI, and robotics, as well as environmental issues. However, I hope that the Enterprise will think as one with Keio University and become an organization that also supports the core aspects of its operations.

(Yasuhiro Hirao, Honorary Trustee of Keio University, former President and Representative Director of Keio Academic Enterprise)