SFC Moves Forward with Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) | Jiro Kokuryo (Vice-President)
2013.07.09
As of July 4, I have stepped down as Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management and have been appointed as the Vice-President for SFC. From now on, I will be in a position to support the development of SFC from the university headquarters. I look forward to your continued support.
In addition to my responsibilities for SFC, I will also be in charge of international affairs. This role involves providing Keio students with numerous study abroad experiences and, conversely, welcoming students from around the world to Keio University. I hope to promote internationalization not only in education but also in research.
The responsibilities for SFC and international affairs are a good match because the project to establish Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future)—which will become Keio University's global gateway on the SFC campus—is now rapidly moving forward. As it advocates for residential education and research, the plan is not simply to build a dormitory, but to construct multiple buildings, each with a capacity of about 65 people, that integrate living quarters and classrooms, with the aim of promoting an education integrated with residential life.
While the specific details are still being finalized, the current leading proposal is to have a class of 50 students live and study together for about two weeks. This intensive learning experience, consisting of about two class periods four days a week (16 periods in total), will be offered as a "unit." It will be possible to set up many such units. For subjects that require a longer period, it will be possible to take two units consecutively. If a larger class size is preferable, I believe it would also be possible to hold joint classes combining two units.
Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) is also intended to provide an experience of learning while living and eating together, returning to the origins of Tekijuku. I hope that all SFC students will experience one unit during their time here. I would also love for students from other faculties to have this experience. Furthermore, the difference of about 15 people between the residential capacity of approximately 65 and the unit size of 50 will be allocated as rooms for international students, visiting young researchers, and staff who support the units.
These units can be applied not only to programs for Keio students but also for short-term international students. For example, like other universities around the world, Keio University can offer summer programs in June and July, providing credit-bearing courses for students from across the globe who wish to come to Japan for a short period. In fact, this also serves to leverage the benefits of the "academic calendar that makes it easier for students to participate in short-term study abroad, such as summer programs offered by overseas universities in June and July, through measures like the introduction of a quarter system," which is currently under consideration. By welcoming a large number of international students to campus in June and July when the student population is lower, we can also provide an international experience for the students who remain in Japan. Similarly, I believe it would be possible to implement spring programs for international students.
An environment that facilitates offering residential intensive programs also means it will be easier to invite prominent professors from overseas to give intensive lectures. By opening these opportunities not only to the three SFC faculties but also to courses organized by other faculties, we can make Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) a place where global knowledge truly converges.
The establishment of Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) is also part of Keio University's commitment to realizing the extension of the Sotetsu Izumino Line to the front of the campus. Its role is to increase demand for the railway by creating an academic institution in Fujisawa where people from all over the world come and go. Momentum is building for the Izumino Line extension, but a final decision has not yet been made. Amidst this situation, Keio University hopes to make this momentum decisive by taking concrete, proactive steps.
The realization of Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) requires the support of many people. We are currently running the "Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) Fund," and we would be grateful for your consideration.
(Date Published: 2013/07/09)