The Globalization and Internationalization of Universities | Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President / Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance
2024.06.25
When I casually used the word "globalization," a British professor I was speaking with pointed out, "You shouldn't use that word. It's internationalization." In the flow of the conversation, I couldn't press her for the difference in meaning. However, it somehow stuck with me.
Then I came across two books. Neither of them was primarily about globalization; they just happened to mention it as I was reading. The first book pointed out that globalization is another word for colonialism, meaning the introduction and establishment of Western civilization in other regions.
The other book was even more scathing, pointing out that globalization is about creating dead copies of Western things.
In contrast, internationalization seems to mean exchange between two or more countries with mutual respect. Therefore, "university globalization" means imitating Western universities, while "university internationalization" means exchanging ideas while respecting the ways of each country's universities.
Although "internationalization" may sound a bit old-fashioned, the internationalization of universities is likely the more desirable path.
Since Keio University's origins lie in Dutch and English studies, one could say that, if anything, Keio University was oriented toward the globalization of Japan. From the perspective of Yukichi Fukuzawa, who was able to travel abroad three times in the latter half of the 19th century when most people had never left the country, it was essential to adopt Western ways to maintain Japan's independence. Ideologically, Fukuzawa disliked Japan's feudal system and may have been, so to speak, a "Westernizer." However, even Fukuzawa, who was quick to renounce his samurai status, favored Japanese clothing in his later years and was not trying to turn Japan into a dead copy of the West.
Incidentally, the portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa displayed at Keio University's current entrance and graduation ceremonies shows him not in a suit but in casual Japanese attire. The portrait on the 10,000-yen banknote, which will soon be replaced, also depicts him in Japanese clothing (Eiichi Shibusawa, who will be printed on the next 10,000-yen bill, is shown in a suit).
At the end of June, the Annual Presidents' Meeting of the APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) will be held. This year's venue is Auckland, New Zealand. Within the APRU, the Western countries would be the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the APRU secretariat is located in Hong Kong, and the association includes 61 universities from 18 countries and regions around the Pacific, making it truly diverse. The language used is English, but a variety of English accents can be heard.
Universities in Western countries are being shaken by the Gaza issue. When the president of a European university visited the Mita Campus, they remarked, "It's so quiet here." This was because there were no student demonstrations or tents set up on campus.
Various world university rankings attempt to hierarchize thousands of universities around the globe, but there is persistent criticism that they do not reflect reality. Diversity is the very reason for a university's existence, and pursuing dead copies of Western universities is likely not the right strategy for universities in Japan. As the Vice-President in charge of issues closely related to globalization, such as international affairs and information technology (IT), my concerns run deep.