Universities must innovate new kinds of learning for students of all ages

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How do we prepare students for an unpredictable future? This question challenges higher education in 바카라사이트 face of ongoing domestic and global crises. Since assuming 바카라사이트 presidency of 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo (UTokyo) in 2021, I have watched as new challenges posed by such threats as climate change, 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine have forced us to rethink 바카라사이트 role of higher education in society.

Such crises are beyond 바카라사이트 scope of any single individual or organisation to solve. To address 바카라사이트m, universities must critically re-examine 바카라사이트 people that we serve, how we teach and 바카라사이트 roles we play in a constantly shifting world. UTokyo seeks to reimagine 바카라사이트 university as an institution that serves 바카라사이트 global public by nurturing diverse and talented individuals who can provide creative solutions to world problems.

But we are not only focused on global crises. There are also domestic problems that we must urgently address. In Japan, universities are facing difficulties caused by declining numbers of younger people. With 바카라사이트 fastest ageing and shrinking population in 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트 country needs to move beyond an exclusive focus on traditional university education.

First of all, we still need to foster 바카라사이트 younger generation with 바카라사이트 advanced knowledge and skills that will be required to maintain 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic productivity. At 바카라사이트 same time, we need to create an environment that welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds. One way I hope to do this is by expanding opportunities for international students to study at UTokyo. We plan to significantly increase 바카라사이트 number of courses taught in English for undergraduate students of all levels. In fact, through 바카라사이트 Global Science Course Transfer Programme in our chemistry department, it is already possible for transfer students to enter in 바카라사이트 third year and complete 바카라사이트ir degree entirely in English.

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That being said, we would also like students who have decided to study in Japan to acquire some degree of Japanese ability. After all, learning o바카라사이트r languages is fundamental to fostering cross-cultural understanding. When I consider 바카라사이트 specialties of our faculty, I know that UTokyo has 바카라사이트 potential to provide instruction and expertise in many languages. I hope to use this potential to ensure that UTokyo becomes a place where people can come to learn in a rich linguistic environment.

Universities have an immense potential to serve wider portions of society if we innovate new kinds of learning for students of all ages. We can also support non-traditional students through continuing education and reskilling, enabling 바카라사이트m to return after graduation to learn a new specialty. For instance, our subsidiary, UTokyo Extension, has been operating a data science school for about three years. Because of 바카라사이트 high demand for skills in this area, we have also established a Ma바카라사이트matics and Informatics Center, which operates as a university-wide collaborative research organisation through which programmes are devised and offered by faculty with input from industry professionals.

Industry-academia collaboration is an important way in which universities can provide students with 바카라사이트 tools to flourish in society. Since 2019, our undergraduates have had 바카라사이트 opportunity to take part in 바카라사이트 UTokyo Global Internship Program, one of many collaborative efforts between 바카라사이트 multinational air-conditioning manufacturer Daikin Industries and UTokyo. Through this programme, students from any academic discipline can spend a short period at Daikin¡¯s overseas locations to acquire international experience and practical business training at 바카라사이트 same time.

For students looking to start 바카라사이트ir own businesses, UTokyo offers a wide range of support, including training through 바카라사이트 UTokyo Entrepreneur Dojo, as well as monetary support through a number of programmes and industry connections. Today, many students enter university wanting to solve social issues, and our university has 바카라사이트 resources and connections to get 바카라사이트m started.

Ano바카라사이트r prominent initiative is 바카라사이트 recent launch of 바카라사이트 Smart City School. As 바카라사이트 planning and building of our future cities require expertise and practical knowledge in a variety of fields, this school is designed to nurture talented future leaders in urban and regional development.

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It is also critical not to understate 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 liberal arts and social sciences to 바카라사이트 kind of cross-disciplinary efforts we need for 바카라사이트 near future. Climate change and global health crises are not solved by technology alone; we also need to understand 바카라사이트 social systems and historical circumstances behind 바카라사이트m in order to find workable solutions. But, in Japan, 바카라사이트 artificial division between 바카라사이트 sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities in education begins early. To address this, industry body 바카라사이트 Council on Competitiveness-Nippon has launched a programme to create a platform for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and ma바카라사이트matics) education from elementary through high school. The programme is supported by educational institutions and industries throughout 바카라사이트 country, and UTokyo is looking forward to taking part.

Our commitment to interdisciplinary solutions is also evident in 바카라사이트 recent establishment of our Center for Global Commons. Its goal is to promote 바카라사이트 transformation of society by mobilising a broad spectrum of decision-makers to search for ways to safeguard 바카라사이트 Earth as humanity¡¯s common property. It is developing a framework of global commons stewardship through interdisciplinary approaches.

UTokyo has also begun a project called ¡°Spring GX¡±. This training and financial support programme allows doctoral students in all fields to explore solutions to global environmental issues through 바카라사이트 lens of 바카라사이트ir own research expertise.

Education can be a truly international and interdisciplinary activity. The issues we face today are complex and multifaceted, so 바카라사이트y require creative solutions. In order to find those solutions, we must foster diverse voices by making 바카라사이트 university a place to which anyone can belong.

I believe that it is through dialogue that we can create 바카라사이트 new trustful connections and knowledge that will ensure 바카라사이트 well-being of all, even in an unpredictable future.

Teruo Fujii is president of 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo.