SFC from Spring 'Also' | Kazunori Takashio, Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance
2024.04.02
On March 26, amid a cold rain that could hardly be called a gentle spring shower, the commencement for the 2023 academic year was held. At the Graduate School of Media and Governance, the degree of Master of Media and Governance was conferred upon 119 students, the degree of Ph.D. in Media and Governance [Ph.D. (Media and Governance)] upon 11 students, and the degree of Ph.D. (Gakujutsu) upon 8 students.
The commencement itself, partly due to various reforms, proceeded solemnly, starting with the academic report, followed by the conferral of diplomas to three representatives for doctoral, master's, and professional degrees, the President's address, a congratulatory speech from a faculty and staff representative, and concluding with the Rendition of Alma Mater "The Juku-ka." For me, being on the stage for the first time and feeling a bit nervous, it seemed to be over in a flash. After the ceremony, we moved to a large classroom in the Independence Wing, where I met again with all the graduating students of the Graduate School of Media and Governance. Unlike before, the atmosphere was relaxed, faces softened, and lively conversations with friends and junior members from their research groups were underway. Not only parents but also many faculty members rushed to celebrate. I handed diplomas to each of these graduating students, one by one, with a few personal words. This is a privilege of the Dean of the Graduate School. It makes me a little happy.
Before handing out the diplomas, I took the opportunity to say a few words, consciously trying to keep it informal rather than a stiff speech. I think this is probably what I said.
(The following is a transcript from memory. It may differ slightly from what I actually said, lol)
Congratulations to all of you who have earned your degrees today. I've thought a lot about what to say here, but the first thing I really want to ask is this.
Did you all make full use of the university's resources to get your money's worth for the high tuition fees?
I imagine your studies and research activities involved relearning many things we had started to forget as the COVID-19 pandemic finally subsided. Perhaps things still didn't go as smoothly as you would have liked. In that sense, research is tough. But you move forward because it's also enjoyable. Today is the result of that. Congratulations!!
Now, about the Graduate School of Media and Governance that you have just graduated from. There is one thing that *I* think is a major characteristic of it. What do you think it is?
It's the gender balance of the students studying in the graduate school. In the world of academia, the persistent gender gap is a major issue. Looking at the number of faculty members at universities and graduate schools, the percentage of women in Japanese universities as a whole is said to be 26%, 30% at private universities, and 19% at national universities (according to a 2021 Asahi Shimbun/Kawaijuku survey [1] ). And what about our own Keio University (full-time faculty at the university and graduate schools)? It's 20% (according to a 2022 survey [2] ). It's clearly unbalanced. Of course, this isn't something that can be solved simply by increasing the numbers; improvements in the research and educational environment, and fundamental reforms in work styles, must come first before they are reflected in the figures. On that premise, we must nurture students like you—who are "fledgling researchers" and "fledgling faculty"—studying in graduate schools, which play a crucial role as the wellspring of academia, and work to close the gender gap in academia.
So, to the main point. What do the numbers look like for the Faculty of Policy Management, the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, and the Graduate School of Media and Governance?
Looking at the 2022 University Student Enrollment (by Faculty and Graduate School) [3] , the percentage of female students in the Faculty of Policy Management is 37%, and in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, it's 41%. I think you can get a sense of these numbers just by walking around campus daily. Not bad. So, what about graduate school? This is a bit of a tangent, but I'm from the Yagami campus. When students advance from undergraduate to master's programs, the number of female students drops sharply. Naturally, the female ratio worsens. This is even more true for the Doctoral Programs. I used to take it for granted, thinking, "It must be the same everywhere." However, at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, the percentage of female students in the master's program is 41%. Even in the Doctoral Programs, it's 39%. It has almost maintained the same figures as the undergraduate level. This is incredible. As far as the Graduate School of Media and Governance is concerned, the numbers are not pessimistic for the future. First, I want you to be proud of having studied and conducted research in such a unique environment. And I hope that one day, you will return to the world of academia.
This is a request from me, but I hope you will continue to watch over your juniors with a warm and supportive gaze, and sometimes guide them. Of course, I would be happiest if you came back as a faculty member. It would also be great if you get involved by directly supporting student research projects, like Vice-President Yamagishi does, rather than as a faculty member. In any form, I hope you will maintain your 'connection' with your juniors and the Graduate School of Media and Governance.
To all the new doctors who have earned your Ph.D.s, my heartfelt congratulations. And welcome to this side. Your degree is proof that you are a leading expert, the world's number one, on the topic of your doctoral dissertation. You have now stepped into the same arena as the top-tier researchers active on the global stage.
To those of you who have completed the master's program, there are 19 new doctors here today. Among them is Takuya Onishi, the vice-representative of the degree recipients (and also the representative for the Graduate School of Media and Governance). If you look at them and think, even for a moment, "That's so cool!", please come back to the Doctoral Programs anytime. I always carry three letters of recommendation in my pocket. All that's left is to write your name on them.
In his address, the President mentioned the "value of a degree." Degrees (master's and doctoral) in Japan should be valued more highly, just as they are overseas. As you all know, the world remains in an unstable state. The degree you have earned today should be a powerful weapon for you to break new ground, forge new paths, and push forward in such a world. In my inaugural message as Dean of the Graduate School , I wrote that "the name of the Graduate School of Media and Governance does not contain the character for 'studies' (学, gaku)." I believe that as your achievements and degrees accumulate, the academic discipline of "Media and Governance Studies" will one day be established. Let's build upon this together and create a new path.
Once again, my sincere congratulations on earning your degrees today. Well done!!
And so, a new semester begins.
To all new students, welcome to SFC.
The faculty, staff, and current students welcome you with all our hearts.
1. Asahi Shimbun article, "Female University Faculty at 26%: Japan Lags Behind the World, Provides Grants to Secure 'Rikejo' (Women in STEM)," September 21, 2021,
2. 2022 Keio University Faculty and Staff Information: Number of Faculty Members,