Keio University's 150th, SFC's 20th | Tomoyuki Kojima (Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management)
2005.11.18
Washington, D.C., where I arrived on a direct flight on the morning of November 17, is now at the peak of its autumn colors. However, the morning temperature is only around 2 degrees Celsius, and people on the street are dressed for the severe cold. My business trip to Russia scheduled for September had to be canceled at the last minute, and this trip was also at risk of being called off, but I somehow managed to make it to Washington. I plan to discuss the Japan-U.S. alliance in East Asia and the Okinawa issue with American researchers and return to Japan on the 20th after a two-night stay.
SFC alumni are also active here, and I look forward to reuniting with them. On November 23, a Homecoming Day (HCD) will be held at the ORF at Roppongi Hills, where various research group alumni associations will gather, but I'll have an early HCD here in Washington.
Whenever I meet with alumni, I am struck by the depth of their feelings for Keio University and SFC. As long as this exists, the future of the Juku and SFC will surely be secure. However, whether we can be confident that it will be secure depends on the extent to which the current students, faculty, and staff on campus can live up to the expectations of the alumni.
A perfect opportunity to respond to these feelings is fast approaching. Keio University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2008, and SFC will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2010. I hope that current students, faculty, staff, and alumni will all come together as one "Keio Gijuku Shachu" to work on the anniversary projects.
Under the slogan "Leading the Way to the Future, Independence and Collaboration," fundraising activities for the 150th anniversary have also begun in earnest. The plan is to realize educational and research concepts for the next 150 years, including new faculties and graduate schools. As part of the Juku's anniversary projects, new educational and research programs, as well as facilities for research and international exchange, have been proposed for the SFC campus and are being discussed for implementation. It is precisely because of the accumulation of steady, daily efforts that the Juku is about to celebrate its 150th year and SFC its 20th. Sustaining these deep feelings for the Juku and SFC is perhaps the greatest anniversary project of all.
(Date of publication: 2005/11/18)