President’s Message

Today, the world has been suffering from repeated natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat of wars, and the economic and social conditions surrounding us are in the midst of drastic changes and growing uncertainty. However, it is also true that we human beings have been able to overcome such chaotic situations that have come to us in every age. This is because we are equipped with the intelligence and the attitude to accurately grasp and analyze the situation and to seek the best solutions. What is important is to consciously link this attitude and intelligence to our actions. In doing so, we must take into account the image of humanity and society that is commonly understood or recognized as a paradigm by diverse people living in various countries and regions with different cultures and histories. Herein lies the significance of advancing academics and the role of universities.

Founded in 1885, Chuo University is proud of its 137 years of steady fulfillment of such a role. Under the founding spirit of "Fostering the Ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice,” Chuo University has built a history of tradition and achievement, symbolized by Hakumon, the University's original stone White Gate, and has worked with a mission to contribute to society by nurturing individuals who go on to support society and lead the way for the future. Today, as a comprehensive university with eight faculties, seven graduate schools, two professional graduate schools, four affiliated high schools, two affiliated junior high schools, and nine research institutes, this founding spirit has been passed down to the university's message of “Fostering the ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice” through diverse academic research and broad, practical education.

Academia is inevitably related to the real world and human society, and they should be developed through interaction with the activities of society, such as researchers discovering issues in everyday life and developing relevant theories. Academia always moves with the times and evolves to adapt to changes in society. This is our approach to academic research rooted in the   educational philosophy of Chuo’s founding spirit, noted above, “Fostering the Ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice.” Accordingly, "ability" refers to a foundation of skills that can be applied to society, and "fostering the ability" refers to cultivating not only knowledge, but also the capabilities needed to communicate, discuss, and make informed decisions through experiences and interactions with others, while embracing life-long learning.

On the other hand, in order to build a sustainable social infrastructure, education and research at universities in the future must take an increasingly multifaceted view of academic fields that leads to expansion of interdisciplinary research and education based on the fusion of multiple disciplines, particularly the implementation of research and education integrating humanities and sciences through focusing on the interrelationship between science and technology (natural science fields) and human and social behavior (humanities and social sciences fields). Furthermore, it is essential to further improve the academic environment and educational programs as well as to promote sports activities so that students can lead a healthy and independent life at the University. In recent years, taking on a responsibility expected from the society, Chuo University has issued the “Chuo University Declaration in Support of Diversity” and a declaration of “Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals at Chuo University” and making university-wide efforts as follows:

-Establishment of the Faculty of Global Management and the Faculty of Global Informatics (2019)
-Opening of the Chuo University Diversity Center (2020)
-Opening of the AI and Data Science Center (2020) and the implementation of the Chuo University Interfaculty AI and Data Science Program (2021)
-Opening of the ELSI Center (2021)
-Opening of the Academic Support Center and the implementation of academic writing classes (2022)
-Opening of the Chuo University Platform for Research and Development on Higher Education (2021)
-Opening of the Chuo Sports Center (scheduled in 2022)
-Opening of the Myogadani Campus and the relocation of the Faculty and Graduate School of Law (scheduled in 2023)
-Opening of the Surugadai Campus and the relocation of the Law School and Business School (scheduled in 2023)
-Opening of the Koishikawa Campus, a sports facility in central Tokyo (scheduled in 2023)

From the perspective of nurturing individuals with the intelligence and initiative to play an active role in the era of Society 5.0, defined as "a human-centered society that balances economic development and the resolution of social issues through a system that highly integrates cyberspace (virtual space) and physical space (real space)," Chuo University will promote educational DX (digital transformation), and further facilitate the development of student-participatory programs and collaboration with foreign universities and international organizations, through effective combination of distance education and face-to-face education that enhances educational effectiveness. 
This is because we want our students to constantly learn with the world and develop the ability to apply their intellect to society while growing with each other. We will continue to open our university's abundant human and material resources to the local community and various other communities, and actively seek to interact with society. We aim to become "a more open Chuo University" to realize learning that leads to a solid future.

President
Hisashi KAWAI