Wakayama University

Aiming to become a region-supporting, region-supported university through the collaboration of students, and teaching and administrative staff.

 

It is a great honor to be appointed President of Wakayama University as of August 1. I am committed to doing my utmost to both upholding its history and traditions and to furthering its development. But I cannot do these things alone. I need your cooperation and assistance.

Wakayama University experienced many changes

during the administration of my predecessor.

President Akira Oda, especially related to its transformation into a corporate entity.

 

Global and domestic trends in recent years have raised fundamental questions about the state of the social system and human beings since the 20^th century. It is our mission—as an institute of advanced education—to investigate these fundamental questions from a research perspective as we nurture the next generation of individuals who will participate in solving them.

 

To this end, Wakayama University will place emphasis on developing a high level of understanding and awareness of the present times and society, as well as on the ability to form interpersonal relationships and work with other people to resolve problems. It will do this by realizing a superior liberal arts education starting from the first year students, while considering both various character-building issues faced by today’s students from childhood to adolescence in both learning and every-day life experiences.

 

Wakayama University is located “in the country”, namely, Wakayama—a prefecture troubled by unequal regional development. At the same time, possess rich history and environment, notably the Koya/Kumano World Heritage sites and the Kuroshio Cultural Area encompassing the Kii Peninsula. Wakayama University can use its location to ‘create’ universal knowledge through its research activities by taking advantage of that history, nature, economy and culture to help overcome unequal regional development and

help realize of a sustainable society. 

 

In order to fulfill these tasks, importance will be placed on respecting teaching staff’s various activities based on their interests in a wide range of problems, on assisting administrative staff in proactively performing their duties, and on developing a relationship of mutual respect and trust between teaching staff and administrative staff. We will also seek to create “a university with an atmosphere that encourages independence, autonomy and harmony” by encouraging students to participate in the University’s development, instead of merely treating them as recipients of services.

 

Furthermore, we intend to realize what is called to as a “regional university model”, by creating networks with professionals in various fields who are interested in Wakayama University and graduates and other former members of the University who now have successful careers nationwide, so that Wakayama University will have a respected position among institutes of advanced education in Japan. Your cooperation and assistance are vitally important here too.