Why Not Try Living on Campus? | Tomohiro Ichinose, Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
Last weekend (December 13 and 14), "Dormitory Fest 2025" was held at SFC. This event was organized as part of the "Dormitory Studies Program", an initiative led by Professor Fumitoshi Kato of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies through the Leading-edge Future Fund. Students and staff from Waseda University, Chuo University, International Christian University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Akita International University, and Keio University gathered at SFC for a training camp to discuss the theme of "The Future of International Dormitories" over two days. In the Dormitory Studies Program, we visited student dormitories at other universities last year, and this year we invited several of those universities to join us for this event.
I participated in the presentation of results from the mixed-university group work held at noon on the 14th. Discussions were divided into different themes, such as multicultural coexistence among residents and ideal dormitory management systems, and the results were presented. Participants shared the difficulties of management due to the gathering of diverse students, including international students, and ideas for helping many residents enjoy dormitory life. During the presentations, there were even proposals like "Let's do this at our campus next year." Although I was only able to attend the presentation session, I believe there was a fruitful exchange of opinions and interaction over the two days.
H (Eta) Village, the student dormitory established on our campus, has been featured frequently in this "Okashira Diary" before. It opened in March 2023, and more than two and a half years have already passed. Combined with the nearby Shonan Fujisawa International Student Dormitory established in March 2021, approximately 350 students currently live in the Endo district where the campus is located. In the past, when visiting the campus on weekends or during long breaks, I would hardly meet anyone, but now I often see students. For our campus located in the suburbs, the presence of student dormitories is extremely significant. It frees not only students from overseas or regional areas but also students from the Tokyo metropolitan area from long commuting times.
Of course, there are various challenges; in particular, students have pointed out that the last bus between the nearest station and the campus is too early. They say they feel this especially when their job-hunting activities become full-scale. That said, you don't necessarily have to spend all four years in the dormitory, so I hope you will try living there during a period that suits you. Engaging with the campus and the surrounding community not just as a place to commute to, but as a resident, will surely lead to new discoveries.
Photo by: Takeshi Kishi