Crisis and Opportunity | Tomoki Kamo, Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management
2021.08.17
On the morning of August 1, when my term as dean began, I sent an email to my faculty colleagues with the following message.
"The coronavirus is a major crisis, but it should also be an opportunity. Looking back at history, it seems that when society is in turmoil and crisis, individuals and groups emerge to lead society with new ways of thinking. And can the Faculty of Policy Management and SFC play a part in this? That is what I am thinking about."
This idea of "crisis and opportunity" came from my research colleagues overseas. Many of them, when considering the question of "how to deal with change," invariably begin their discussion by presenting the perspective that a crisis equals danger plus opportunity. I like this way of thinking, which combines the ambition to turn a crisis into an opportunity with the flexibility to see a crisis as a favorable opportunity.
We are now facing a crisis that began with the COVID-19 pandemic. How can we turn this crisis into an opportunity?
The crisis before us seems to be unprecedented. The pandemic is rapidly bringing to the surface crises that existed before. In a society of deepening interdependence, a single crisis can trigger a chain reaction and spread in an instant. In our increasingly complex society, academic disciplines have become more and more specialized, but what society needs now is likely a perspective that can provide a comprehensive overview by coordinating knowledge while being grounded in deep expertise. The challenges are many. That is why it seems we are hearing that the time has come for the Faculty of Policy Management and SFC, which have pursued interdisciplinary studies to "think about policy."
But it is not that simple. We will not return to the pre-pandemic world after the pandemic. Therefore, we must change. As we are required to prepare for an uncertain future, where can we find opportunities for the faculty and SFC? I would like to explore new ways of thinking, based on the ambition to turn a crisis into an opportunity and the flexibility to see a crisis as a favorable one. For us, the very chance to think about such things is probably an opportunity in itself.
I have succeeded former Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management, TAIYO TSUCHIYA, who was appointed Vice-President on August 1, and have become the new Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management. In cooperation with Vice-President TAIYO TSUCHIYA, I would like to work together with SFC's Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Graduate School of Media and Governance, and Graduate School of Health Management to contribute to the development of the campus.
Above all, I cannot solve the challenges we face alone. I look forward to working with you all.