Our Philosophy: GAKU-NO-JITSUGE (Harmony between Academia and Society)
Kansai University pursues educational research activities under the university motto: GAKU-NO-JITSUGE (Harmony between Academia & Society). The purpose of this approach was proposed by Juntaro Yamaoka, who was the General Trustee at the time when Kansai University was endorsed as a university in 1922. He said, "The direction of education that Kansai University should aim for is to harmonize academia and society as well as to cultivate human resources who are capable in the real world." Even now, 100 years after it was proposed, the university motto “GAKU-NO-JITSUGE” still plays an important role, by acting as a compass and directing the way in which the university should proceed. This approach will not change in the future.
To achieve the goals outlined in this motto, Kansai University strives to develop human resources possessing both the skills and the will to overcome the difficulties of our increasingly uncertain society. Our highly skilled and motivated people will have the ability to create a new future based on a deep respect for diversity.
Kandai Vision 150
Envisioning the Future, and Embracing the Challenges
In 2016―to commemorate its 130th year of existence―Kansai University formulated Kandai Vision 150 as a set of principles to guide our future development in line with our vision of the University 20 years from now.
Kandai Vision 150 is based on both an overall vision and four specific perspectives: education, research, contribution to society, and management. It clarifies our vision for Kansai University 20 years from now and details our policy objectives for the next ten years. These policy objectives are broken down into both five-year medium-term action plans and one-year business plans. In order to achieve these goals, Kansai University is establishing systems for steadily promoting our vision.
A Message from the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
Toward the University's CentenaryKeiji Shibai, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Kansai University
Kansai University's 19th Board of Trustees was inaugurated in October of 2020, and I assumed office as its Chairperson. Given that I have been put in charge of the Kandai Group―including not only 35,000 students and others but also more than 490,000 alumni―I take my responsibilities extremely seriously.
In 1886, Kansai University was founded in Osaka as Kansai Law School with the support of Korekata Kojima―who was the Chief Justice of the Osaka Court of Appeals at the time―and the school's teachers included incumbent judges and public prosecutors. Since then, in line with our university motto, which calls for the realization of GAKU-NO-JITSUGE (Harmony between Academia & Society), we have consistently strived to enlighten and educate both society and the people.
We have encountered many hardships during our long history, but we have successfully overcome all of them, thanks to the support of the people of Osaka and many others. Kansai University is celebrating its centenary in 2022. This will be an excellent opportunity to reaffirm both the fact that our promotion was achieved with the support of Osaka's financial world as well as our vitality at the time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently sweeping across the globe, the schools established by our organization suffer from a variety of restrictions, and many students and others face economic difficulties, but―thanks to both the enthusiasm of our faculty members as well as the goodwill of our alumni and other stakeholders―I am confident that we will overcome these hardships as well.
Our long-term vision, which looks ahead to our organization's 150th anniversary, is not only a typical vision in that it shows our ideal future situation but is also unique to us in that it provides an opportunity for each of our constituents to think about what they should do in the name of our future and communicate their thoughts. This is because free and open discussion is the wellspring of the vitality of any private school, including Kansai University.
In this age of diversity, how can Kansai University survive and lead the way?
As we confront this question, I look forward to the support and encouragement of the students and faculty members of our established schools as we promote discussion and take on the associated challenges as one.
A Message from the President
The courage and power to changeYutaka Maeda, President, Kansai University
Kansai University, which has a 136-year history, will celebrate its promotion to university status and is the 100th anniversary of the university motto GAKU-NO-JITSUGE (Harmony between Academia & Society) in 2022. During the course of Kansai University's history, being promoted to university status was a long-cherished wish. There were many issues to be resolved, but, with the support and cooperation of many people―led by Dr. Juntaro Yamaoka―Kansai University was able to achieve this goal.
The COVID-19 crisis is currently changing the world. The pandemic is having major effects on economics, culture, and education. In particular, the current difficulty of meeting face-to-face has serious implications for education and universities. Although our University will continue to conduct most of its lectures as in-person classes, we are also incorporating remote classes and will continue to put the health and safety of our students and faculty members first as we strive to contribute to the continuity and development of education, research, and cooperation with society.
In particular, as a result of needs related to providing education during last year's COVID-19 crisis, the use of digital technology increased considerably. At Kansai University, I hope that we can further develop our digital education environment, promote pioneering educational initiatives, redouble efforts pertaining to the concept of DX (digital transformation) throughout the University, and pay special attention to the creation of the best possible environment for providing education to our students.
At the same time, it is important to continue to contribute to society even under these circumstances. We also need to link these difficulties to new developments. Kansai University's mission is not to provide human resources and research required by society, but rather to create human resources and creative research that will lead society. Based on the internal enhancement of education and research as well as the promotion of internationalization, we will strive to develop Kansai University as a leader of society in the age of diversity.
The harmony between academia and society, as stated in the motto GAKU-NO-JITSUGE, refers to the interaction between University education and research and the real world. To this end, we need to make Kansai University into a place that will constantly strive to make sense of the unpredictable, is unafraid of change, and is willing to take on challenges. The courage and power to change will lead to the evolution of Kansai University.
We wish to unite Kansai University into one, where all students, faculty members, alumni, and everyone else involved with Kansai University can be proud to support and be a part of the University. I would like to ask all of you for your support, understanding, and cooperation.
