The 2009 Academic Year Discussion Session with Media Members (held by the Public Relation Office) took place on June 25th at Surugadai Memorial Hall of Chuo University. The event was held in order to report to media members regarding the current condition, projects, and future vision of Chuo University, as well as to exchange a wide range of information and promote friendly relations.

Invitations were sent to a number of media companies, and approximately 60 members from those companies attended the discussion session. On the Chuo University side, the event featured participation from approximately 20 attendees which included the Chairman of the Chair, Board of Regents Shuji Hisano, Chancellor and President Kazuyuki Nagai, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Regents, the Vice-President of the university, and the Dean of each faculty. The event was held in two phases consisting of a discussion session and an exchange meeting.

At the discussion session which was held as the first part of the event, a speech was given by Chairman Hisano. After referencing the food issues and natural resource issues in Japan, he emphasized that "in order for us to survive this new period in history, universities have the mission of developing young professionals who will lead in the future of Japan." Mr. Hisano also expressed his desire to "steer our university" so that it is possible to achieve the mission described above.

Next, Chancellor and President Kazuyuki Nagai gave an explanation of the vision of Chuo University using PowerPoint and video presentations. First, he pointed out the importance of university education by saying that "universities are the final place for teaching fundamentals to individual human beings." Chancellor Nagai also stated that "People who consider their 'way of living' in the future are people who grow at university. People who possess skills such as human ability, communication ability and language ability are people who will grow during employment at a company." Furthermore, he expressed his intention to increase the brand strength of Chuo University by improving fundamental education throughout the university and by promoting internationalization.

Specifically, Chancellor Nagai referred to the topics of university-wide standard fundamental courses and the expansion of university-wide integrated education. He also gave an explanation of FLP, an educational program that crosses the boundaries between faculties, by stating that "it allows students to consider whether or not the faculty and department which they chose during their high school days is truly the best fit for them." He also introduced work being done for a rich lineup of practical study including internships and other opportunities to study within society.

Chancellor and President Nagai also referred to fostering the ability to apply knowledge to practice, which is the founding spirit of Chuo University. He emphasized that, in addition to acquiring certifications, students will be equipped with the rational ability needed to resolve problems.

In regards to the promotion of internationalization, Chancellor Nagai stated that "we will produce professionals who are capable of responding to issues on a global scale." He also raised two different visions, one for the internationalization of existing faculties and graduate schools, and one for the internationalization of new educational organizations.

Chancellor Nagai continued by explaining about the internationalization of educational methods, raising examples such as mutual exchange courses with foreign universities, as well as courses using English and information technology. Also, in regards to new educational organizations, he introduced the construction of new facilities for the purpose of conducting education in the spirit of Chuo University. Examples included the establishment of a new model faculty that will stimulate existing faculties, as well as an affiliated school that unifies junior high school and high school in order to develop students who will contribute to internationalization.

Chancellor and President Nagai concluded his explanation by stating that "I hope to reconstruct the founding spirit of our school, to create a global network, and to transform Chuo into a university that deploys professionals throughout the world."

The event continued with a lively Q&A session where one question after another was asked by members of the media. Chancellor and President Nagai gave the following response to a question regarding the model faculty mentioned above: "With a faculty that creates professionals who can respond to global issues, we will develop students who understand cross-cultural issues in today's global age. I want to link new faculties with existing faculties and to exert external pressure on existing faculties."

Also, the following harsh opinion was expressed by a media member who had graduated from Chuo University: "When looking from the outside, I think that Chuo appears to be plain and conservative. High quality students will not gather at Chuo unless the university is made appealing, such as by becoming number one in some aspect." Chancellor and President Nagai responded by saying that "We are considering becoming number one in some aspect. I want to work in order to promote the appeal of Chuo University."

After the first part of the event had ended, participants moved to a different venue for the exchange meeting which was the second part of the event. Members of the media and university officials held discussions in a relaxed atmosphere and deepened friendships with each other. Finally, university Vice-President Yoichiro Nakagawa gave a speech to conclude the exchange meeting.

(Student reporters: Mako Niibe, 4th Year Student at the Faculty of Letters; Koichi Hirose, 2nd Year Student at the Faculty of Letters; Miyuki Nozaki, 2nd Year Student at the Faculty of Law)