New Year’s Greeting from the President 2025

I would like to extend my warmest greetings as we begin 2025, and wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Chuo University entered 2024 on a high note, having successfully relocated the Faculty of Law to an urban campus and earned commendation in the previous year during the Institutional Certified Evaluation and Accreditation, a review conducted every seven years. The past year marked a period of growth and fresh perspectives on the University’s future from a comprehensive vantage point.

Notable developments included the introduction of a University-wide policy on comprehensive internationalization, designed to enhance global engagement, and the implementation of systems to support and advance research activities. Additionally, plans to establish new faculties—tentatively named the Faculty of Data Science, Sports and Wellness and the Faculty of Agriculture and Information Technology —are underway. These initiatives signal Chuo University's intent to broaden its academic scope by integrating science disciplines into the Tama Campus, which has traditionally focused on humanities and social sciences. This expansion aims to foster education that seamlessly combines the humanities and sciences.　

Our efforts in 2024 represent a pivotal phase, during which the entire University embraced and implemented new, accessible measures aligned with our noble ideals. These initiatives were designed to fulfill the expectations of the government and society, which have entrusted higher education institutions with the critical mission of nurturing talent capable of driving innovation in Japan facing significant demographic challenges.

In this context, Chuo University’s official selection for several prestigious initiatives—such as the “Acceleration Program for Reorganization of Universities and KOSEN” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology; the “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by Next Generation” by the Japan Science and Technology Agency; and the “Project to Support the Creation of University-Launched Startups (Type II: Environment-Building)” by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government—between 2023 and 2024 underscores the high regard for our education, research, and social contribution activities. These acknowledgments highlight the significant expectations placed on us to deliver impactful results.

This year marks both the final year of Chuo Vision 2025 and the starting point for formulating the next mid- to long-term plan, Chuo Vision 2035. This new vision will outline the University’s aspirations for 2035, the year of our 150th anniversary. While 2025 serves as a significant milestone, we anticipate major structural reforms over the next two years, including the reorganization of the Faculty of Science and Engineering in 2026 and the establishment of new faculties in 2027. In light of these developments, we are committed to making this year one of strategic preparation—laying the foundation for initiatives requiring continuity and refining plans still under consideration. This will be a year of careful planning and decisive action to shape a strong future for Chuo University.

If I, as the President of Chuo University, were to express my commitment to making our University even more open, it would be as follows: Relentless innovation across all Faculties, Graduate Schools, and Research Institutes—anchored in our tradition and past achievements—forms the foundation of our forward-looking challenges. By uniting their core strengths, we will integrate the efforts of our educational and research institutions to further enhance the University's capabilities in education, research, and social contribution, making Chuo University more open and inclusive than ever. This year, we place particular emphasis on the following four key priorities:

First, we continue to promote initiatives that drive comprehensive internationalization as outlined in Chuo Global-X. In addition, we will take significant steps to establish a robust research support system, laying the groundwork for policies that enhance our research capabilities and global outlook.

Second, we will advance the reform of our Graduate Schools. To envision and implement future transformations, the newly established Chuo University Graduate Schools Restructuring Promotion Committee, operating under the President’s leadership, will spearhead efforts. The focus will be on restructuring education and research within the Ph.D. programs to ensure they contribute to developing highly qualified professionals. This includes fostering diverse career paths and offering advanced research opportunities within the Master’s programs.

Third, we will promote meaningful partnerships with regional and local educational and research institutions. Recognizing Chuo University’s role in supporting the revitalization of areas facing depopulation or economic stagnation, we will extend our collaboration beyond our immediate surroundings to include such regions. Our aim is to establish a platform for an innovative local co-creation model, one that leverages our research achievements and incorporates the entrepreneurial spirit of our students to drive regional co-creation.

Fourth, we will develop a grand design to advance the digital transformation (DX) of education and research. By fostering stronger collaboration across organizational boundaries within the University and establishing a shared understanding of the goal—creating a system that provides uniform support for educational and research activities—we aim to enhance operational efficiency. This will include reviewing administrative functions and optimizing processes to establish a "smart campus" where students and faculty can thrive without information-related stress. To further these efforts, Chuo University will accelerate discussions, with a view to establishing a new committee to guide this transformative initiative.

We believe it is more important than ever for our faculty and staff to showcase their creative collaborative power to shape a brilliant future for Chuo University. Strengthening our ties with alumni and parents is equally vital to enriching campus life and providing meaningful opportunities for our students. I sincerely thank you for your continued understanding and support as we strive for constant progress. Wishing you a wonderful and fulfilling year ahead in 2025.

January 1st, 2025

Hisashi Kawai

President