What Drives SFC? | Tomoki Kamo, Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management
2022.08.30
"When do you feel like you've become the dean?" I have been asked this question many times since my appointment.
It's not when I'm reminded of the day's schedule upon arriving at the dean's office in the morning. Nor is it when I see my calendar fill up and think, "My schedule is no longer my own." These are not experiences exclusive to being a dean.
Now, when I hear news of heavy rain, strong winds, typhoons, or earthquakes, I feel a sense of unease. I also worry about COVID-19 infections. When an event is held at SFC, I find myself wondering, "I hope there are no accidents," or "I hope everything is okay." The phrase "student safety" has become a significant part of my daily life. It is at times like these that I truly feel I have become the dean.
The same colleague asks, "When do you feel you are exercising your power as dean?" I think it's quite a punchy question, but upon reflection, it's a very important one. What is power? Many would probably answer that it is "the power of A to make B do something." But this describes only one aspect of power. There is also the explanation that it is "the power of A to guide B in a certain direction without direct intervention, making B feel compelled to act that way."
Yes, power is a "compelling force," but it is also an "inviting force." In fact, the latter is more important. After receiving my colleague's question and pondering such things, I began to think about what drives SFC. And then it was August.
In August, a series of major events were held at SFC. The Online Open Campus was held on August 10, and the On-Campus Open Campus was held over a total of six days from August 16 to 24. During this time, the Camp for Designing the Future was held from August 19 to 20 on campus and in Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture; Tosa Town, Kochi Prefecture; and Hoki Town, Tottori Prefecture.
A great number of SFC students, staff, and faculty colleagues were involved in making these events happen. The success of these three major events was the result of everyone sharing a strong desire to convey the appeal of the Faculty of Policy Management, the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, and SFC as a whole to high school students, and pooling their efforts toward a common goal.
Every member of SFC probably shares the desire to develop SFC in a better direction. However, it is quite difficult to unify the ideas of each individual. What was it that invited the students, faculty, and staff to participate in these events? It certainly wasn't the dean. I believe it was the very existence of SFC itself.
"What is the appeal of SFC?" I am often asked this question, and I often respond as follows.
The current order is in great flux. Faced with the revolutionary evolution of information and communication technology, shifts in the distribution of power driven by the rise of emerging nations, the spread of infectious diseases, and global warming, we are entering an "era of uncertainty where the future is difficult to predict." Our society demands an academic approach that, while being well-versed in individual cutting-edge fields, re-examines them comprehensively, delves into interdisciplinary areas, and addresses the Policy Questions that lie beyond Academic Questions. If people find SFC appealing, it is perhaps because we are developing an academic field that can meet this demand.
But this explanation is rather formal and only speaks to one aspect of SFC's appeal. Every individual involved with the campus is working hard, hoping to foster SFC's development in a better direction. The power that inspires each of these individuals to "want to work hard" and then invites them to actually do so is, I believe, the true appeal of SFC. I feel that I saw this in the August events. I believe the job of the dean is to nurture, expand, and pass on this power.
To everyone who participated in the Online Open Campus, the On-Campus Open Campus, and the Camp for Designing the Future, thank you very much. Did you feel the appeal of SFC? And to all the members of the SFC community who supported the implementation of these events, thank you so much. They were made possible by your cooperation.