3. The types of undergraduate and graduate students Ritsumeikan seeks to produce in light of changes in the social and university environment

In light of these changes in society and learning, the university regards as an important direction the development of students who go beyond the acquisition of knowledge, formulate their own questions, and move between reflection and practice through engagement with diverse others and connections with research and society, thereby generating new value. We would like to deepen discussions through the Plenary Council on how the university should support learning and growth, while reflecting on these issues in light of your own experiences and vision for the future.

In doing so, the emphasis is not on capacity building that is closed to a specific field, but rather the ability to deepen one’s expertise while understanding knowledge and methods from different fields, and to address complex societal challenges from multiple perspectives. National policies have also identified shortages of science, engineering, and digital talent, as well as the need to move beyond the traditional divide between the humanities and sciences. The university views this not merely as a matter of adjusting enrollment quotas by field, but as a challenge to cultivate human resources capable of generating new value through cross-disciplinary learning, interdisciplinary integration, and collaboration with society, making full use of the broad academic disciplines available at a comprehensive university.

This vision, while centered on fostering innovative and creative individuals, is not intended for only a select group of students. Rather, it is based on diverse students, from undergraduates to graduate students, exercising self-authorization according to their interests and objectives, and taking the initiative to shape their own way of life and careers while making sense of their own learning and experiences. It is also seen as interrelated that from such a diverse learning and growth process, individuals with high expertise and inquisitive power to lead the next generation of research and innovation will be developed.

With these diverse possibilities for growth in mind, the university will create an environment in which each undergraduate and graduate student can deepen their own questions and continue learning through engagement with society, while connecting research and education, undergraduate and graduate studies, and various learning opportunities.

We view the current Plenary Council discussions as an opportunity to deepen our thinking together with students regarding this vision for undergraduate and graduate students.