President’s Position Statement for 2009
To All Faculty, Staff and Students at Nanzan University
Last year, in the Nanzan University Grand Design, Nanzan University shared its vision as thesole Catholic university in the Chubu region. That vision is “to contribute to the creation ofvalues that arise from people living and working together while respecting human dignity,
building on the recognition of diversity and the understanding that various differences exist
among people in terms of ethnicity, ability, religion, culture, and gender.”In last year’s President’s Position Statement, I stated that in order for the mid- to long-termgoals of the Grand Design to be achieved, “unceasing self-reform” and “internal enrichment tobring about the ‘Nanzan Difference’” will be needed. I believe that “internal enrichment” meansthat every person constituting the University needs to enrich their individual strengths. I would
like you to continue working toward making that a reality this year.
The Nanzan University Grand Design is not a fairy tale, but is a realizable future image of
Nanzan that we have the serious responsibility to bring about. Every constituent member of thisuniversity needs to embody that fact in their daily activities. The policies outlined in this year’s
Position Statement were determined based on the recognition that further enrichment in
Research, Education, and Social Contribution is necessary for us to be able to achieve the Grand
Design mid- to long-term goals.
I.

Basic Position

1. Advancement of Education that Differentiates Nanzan as a Catholic University
The raison d’être of Nanzan University is to “disseminate broad knowledge and to conduct andinstruct specialized research based on a Christian world view and thereby develop individuals
who respect and advance human dignity. ” What distinguishes us from other universities is that,based on the premise of our educational motto, ‘for human dignity,’ we encourage the growth of
the whole human through education in specialized fields and in an organized and systematic
foundational education in areas such as religion, philosophy and culture that functions as thebase upon which specialization can be built.
We must support students in our education system so that they are proud to have studied atNanzan and so that they will become members of society who embody the motto ‘for humandignity.’ Our education should contribute to the enrichment of our “individual strengths” thatlead to the development of “global strength.”
2. Towards an Integrated Humanities and Sciences University
There is no change in our basic direction, as a comprehensive university, of continuing toenhance not only the humanities but also the sciences. Being an Integrated Humanities andSciences University and therefore having humanities and sciences faculties in the same
university creates an environment in which each is a positive influence on the other, in terms ofeducation and research, and this makes unique and innovative education and research possible.
To this end, it is important that we create a system wherein discussions about issues such as
educational curricula and research topics can be actively conducted with an eye on developing
possibilities for cross-disciplinary and cross-faculty research and education that can arise fromthe collocation of humanities and sciences faculties. To date, in this arena we have had
successes including the following: the establishment of a bridge-style graduate school, building
on multiple faculties as a collaborative enterprise among humanities departments; the winning1

of competitive funds provided by the Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture and Technology,
etc. In these instances, the Future Planning Committee and the Self-Assessment and
Self-Evaluation Committee as well as others played substantive roles, and these projects weresuccessful as a result. Through a multi-perspective reexamination of the process through whichthese successes were achieved, we will explore a possible redefinition of the roles of thesecommittees so that we can better achieve our goals as an Integrated Humanities and Sciences
University.
To enhance the science fields offered by the University, the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences
and Information Engineering has been transformed into the Faculty of Information Sciences andEngineering. This change will facilitate further social contributions in the Chubu area, which isJapan’s center of manufacturing. I request that humanities faculties also consider organizational
initiatives for the enhancement of their fields as well. Within the administration, we will discuss
ideas such as reorganizing committees, as mentioned above, and we request that each Facultyand Graduate School discuss new research and education possibilities that we can bring tofruition through the collaboration of humanities and sciences faculties.
3. Observance of the Environmental Declaration of Nanzan Gakuen
At the end of the last academic year, the Environmental Declaration of Nanzan Gakuen waspromulgated. Considering recent global environmenta l destruction, the promulgation of adeclaration such as this is the normative social behavior for an institution of higher education.
We intend to conduct our education, research and management responsibilities in line with thisdeclaration.
II.

Priority Issues

Making both research and education work is a mission for institutions of higher education. We
need to remind ourselves that Nanzan University is a research institution, in addition to being an
educational institution. Needless to say, research is what underlies education. We need to renew
our recognition that a university that does not take research lightly is able to produce highquality students, which is how a research/education institution should operate in the first place.
Our duty is to pursue and enhance our uniqueness building on that recognition.
1. Further Strengthening of Nanzan’s Internationalization
The strengthening of Nanzan’s internationalization is indispensable to the realization of two
goals stated in the Grand Design: “making Nanzan a preferred university option for students
from all over the world” and “producing quality graduates for the world market.”In last year’s Position Statement, I requested discussions on the following ideas: theestablishment of a curriculum where each undergraduate student studies for a certain period
abroad; the development of a multi-cultural campus; advancement of exchanges between
Graduate Schools, Faculties and the Center for Japanese Studies; and the reinforcement of links
with Catholic universities around the world.
Moving toward a multi-cultural campus, the Center for International Education was renovatedlast year to create the Study Abroad Exchange Lobby where foreign students and students
desiring to study abroad can share space. This year, we will consider system reforms that allow
students accepted for the official exchange program to go abroad earlier. I request further
discussions on system adjustment and curriculum reform that would allow more opportunities
for day-to-day internationalization.

2

In addition to concrete ideas such as those above, mid- to long-term strategies and policies need
to be determined that will strengthen internationalization at Nanzan. In December 2008,
Nanzan’s Internationalization Enhancement Working Group was established to deliberate
policies and strategies for further internationalization. The Working Group issued a proposal thisyear focusing on enrolling more international students and on reviewing the Japanese language
program. Based on that proposal, we will consider implementation of the following: efforts tostrengthen relationships with universities around the world, efforts to strengthen academic
exchanges with those universities, efforts to expand short-term overseas experiential programs
such as NAP (Nanzan Asia Program) to university-wide programs, and efforts tobi-directionalize those programs.
It is also important to encourage increased faculty exchanges with universities abroad.
Underlying this is the need to enrich faculty members’ “individual strengths.” To that end, asystem that supports such faculty exchanges must also be discussed. Regarding the affiliation
with other Catholic universities that was mentioned in last year’s Position Statement, thefollowing cooperative agreements have been signed: Memorandum of Cooperation between
Nanzan University and Sogang University, Korea; Agreement of Cooperation between Nanzan
School of Law and Law School, Sogang University; Memorandum of Cooperation between
Nanzan University and Universitas Sanata Dharma, Indonesia. Further development of thesetypes of affiliations needs to be deliberated in each Faculty and Graduate School.
2. Revitalization and expansion of ‘Nanzan: Famous for Language Studies’
Enrichment of foreign language education is indispensable for nurturing the intercultural
understanding needed for developing individuals who can be successful on the global scene andfor empowering the individual to become a power in and for the world. University-wide
foundational foreign language education has been revitalized and enriched through initiatives
taken by NEPAS (Nanzan English Program at Seto) and by the establishment of the Nanzan
English Education Center and its ongoing activities. However, to revitalize ‘Nanzan: Famousfor Language Studies,’ a revitalization of foreign language education within the realms of our
specialized language programs is urgently needed. Last year, I requested organizational
improvement of our language learning systems, including language learning equipment and staff,
as well as the advancement of the World Plazas.
A new type of class, called the English Immersion Program, which started in Seto in 2006, wasreplicated the by the Nanzan English Education Center last year. This camp-type program where
Japanese students discuss various issues in English among themselves attempts to enhance not
only language ability but to simultaneously develop thinking skills. The World Plazas on both
campuses are developing steadily. For example, student teaching assistants are working as staff
at the Nagoya Campus World Plaza. A student teaching assistantship can be considered to be aninternship opportunity in which students use a foreign language. This type of foreign language
education distinguishes us from other universities and therefore ne eds to be continued andfurther developed. For the purpose of supporting these educational initiatives, we will renew the
Nagoya campus LL system according to the proposal submitted by the Multi-Media Education
Working Group. I request that discussions commence wherein related Faculties play a central
role in the revitalization of foreign language education within the realms of our specialized
language programs. I request that the related Faculties make this a top priority item and discuss
this with all seriousness.
From the perspectives of creating “a university that is a preferred option for students from allover the world” and “producing quality graduates for the world market,” in addition to “foreign
language classes,” we need to offer more “classes that are taught in a foreign language.” Some3

classes taught in a foreign language have been offered by Faculties and Graduate Schools. The
Graduate School of Business Administration hosted Professor Tae Hoon Oum, aworld-renowned researcher in transportation economics, who presented his lectures in English. I
believe that state-of-the-art research can be made accessible particularly if we make it possible
for faculty and guest lecturers to present classes in a foreign language. I request that Faculties
and Graduate Schools offer and/or expand classes taught in a foreign language.
3. Further Enrichment of Multi-Media Education
Last year, based on the proposal by the Multi-Media Education Working Group, theMulti-Media Education Center Preparation Committee (tentative name) was formed in
December. This signifies that university-wide information education has moved from the design
stage to the implementation stage. I request that the Committee determine the content of afoundational information education that will be unique to Nanzan and elaborate the overalldesign of this including its organizational structure and systems.
III.

Education and Research

1. Further Enrichment of Students’ “Individual Strengths ”
In last year’s Position Statement, I addressed the importance of nurturing individual students’
thinking ability in order to enhance the students’ “individual strengths.” Further, I addressed theimportance of enhancing first year introductory education so that a certain level academic
standards would be maintained. I requested that Faculties consider ways in which these two
objectives could be met. In classes for first year students, the Faculty of Policy Studies and theFaculty of Law provide seminar-type education using commonly shared, original textbooks
created by the Faculties. The Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering offers, as firstyear departmental courses, Programming Practicum and Mathematical Seminar, which combine
practicum and seminar elements creating a multi-directional learning opportunity. These courses
provide foundational education that focuses on creating professional specialists while providing
first year education that meets the standards stipulated by JABEE (the Japan Accreditation
Board for Engineering Education). I request that discussions take place in other Faculties
regarding the development of first year introductory education that lays a foundation that will
nurture students’ thinking ability.
Career education is progressing. Under the Career Support Committee that was established inacademic year 2007, we have been able to support students’ professional awareness throughvarious programs offered by the University. The importance of career education has been
pointed out for some time, but it is gaining greater significance for our students who are anxious
about their future due to the current global financial crisis. I request that Faculties and Graduate
Schools maintain contact with the Career Support Committee and implement active career
educational programs, such as the Faculty of Foreign Studies’ “Career Design,” which is acreative course on how to build a career.
2. Securing High Quality Faculty and Enriching Research and Education
High quality faculty is indispensable for the enrichment of research and education. Each Facultyand Graduate School needs to consider and execute proposals that increase the research as wellas the educational abilities of existing faculty members. Further, I request that each Faculty andGraduate School develop personnel plans that place priority on procuring high quality faculty
members.
Recent reform in the Pache Research Subsidy Distribution System led to an increase in thenumber of applications for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research offered by the Ministry of4

Education and Science. I believe that the faculty evaluation system implemented during the lastacademic year has led to a degree of improvement of research publications in some faculties.
Faculties and Graduate Schools, subsequently the University as a whole, should consider
initiatives to enhance the ability of faculty members to conduct research by, for example,
promoting the utilization of the University’s study abroad and sabbatical systems.
In terms of educational ability enhancement, the University has made efforts in improving FD
activities. As a consequence, we have seen progress in this area, e.g. the 100% submission rateof the Course Evaluation Self-Assessment and Self-Evaluation Report for Spring Semester 2008.
We need to start constructive discussions on enhancing our FD activities in line with thechanges made in the Ministry of Education and Science’s University Establishment Standards,
which included compulsory FD and placed increased importance on university FD activities. I
ask each faculty member to responsibly engage in FD activities following the leads of the
Self-Assessment and Self-Evaluation Committee, the FD Committee as well as Nanzan’s liaison
to the Nagoya Consortium for Faculty and Staff Development.
Faculties and Graduate Schools need to focus on the development of faculty members’‘individual strengths.’ Regarding hiring and promotion in particular, efforts need to be made to
employ and retain high-caliber individuals and to establish a faculty structure that is wellbalanced for the long-term.
3. Enhancing Systematic Support for the Procurement of Competitive Funds
In last year’s Position Statement, I expressed the importance of reinforcing the support system
so that faculty members’ enhanced ‘individual strengths’ will be better connected to the
procurement of competitive funds. To implement this reinforcement, we reorganized the
Education and Research Support Office into two divisions starting this April. As a result,dedicated divisions will separately handle the procurement of competitive funds and FD
activ ities. This should allow more systematic support for these respective activities.
The Ministry of Education and Science promulgated stricter regulations regarding the use offunds in response to misconduct related to the spending of national research funds that occurredat other universities. In response to the Ministry’s new regulations, Nanzan strengthened its
administrative procedures regarding the spending of Grants-in-Aid. Based on our pastexperience in handling such procedures, we are considering a simplification of theadministrative procedures regarding the spending of Grants-in-Aid so that researchers receiving
funds will have greater flexibility in the spending of those funds.
The following are examples of some of the programs that procured various subsidies from the
Ministry of Education and Science:•••“Fostering Multicultural Practices in Business and Education; An Instructional Program in
Global Perspective based on the Internationalization of American Studies” (Graduate
School of International Area Studies, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science &Technology’s “Support Program for Improving Graduate School Education”)“International Research Project on Comparative Syntax and Language Acquisition” (Center
for Linguistics, “Private University Strategic Research Foundation Formation Support
Enterprise” [Research Forming Center of Excellence])“Development of Internationally Competitive Financial / Accounting Professionals”(Graduate School of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management, Kyoto
University, “Education Advancement Program of Advanced Professionals at Professional
Graduate Schools”)

5Additional examples include the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences and Information
Engineering, which in 2006 was designated as a “Leading IT Professionals Fostering Program”
by the Ministry of Education and Science for their program “Project OCEAN: On the Job
Learning Centered Education for Advanced engiNeers.” This program received high evaluationsat its interim assessment by the Leading Information Communication Personnel Education
Advancement Committee and the continuation of the project was approved. Additionally, theGraduate School of Mathematical Sciences and Information Engineering applied for a Global
COE last academic year. This year, the University will be systematically supporting andpromoting active collaboration with other universities as well as supporting applications forcompetitive educational and research funds offered by the Ministry of Education and Science. I
request active engagement by Faculties and Graduate Schools.
Last year, I requested discussion on concrete actions for organizational support to increase theappeal of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences and Information Engineering, and as a result of
this, the new Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering was established. I now request
systematic support and cooperation for the equivalent reorganization to a Graduate School ofInformation Sciences and Engineering and the formation of a doctoral program in the Graduate
School of International Area Studies.
IV.

Collaboration and Social Contribution

1. University Leadership within the Gakuen Alliance: Primary School, Junior HighSchool, High School and University
In last year’s Position Statement, I requested that Faculties consider actions that would makeNanzan University the preferred choice for students within the schools of the Gakuen. However,there was no notable change in the declining trend in the number of applicants for the Gakuen
High School Recommendation Admissions process. Nor did we see a reduction in the trend ofhigh performing students from Gakuen high schools to select universities other than Nanzan.
Faculties should actively engage in discussing actions that need to be taken so that Nanzan
becomes the preferred choice for students from Gakuen schools.
Regarding the Within-Gakuen Alliance, “Article 6. The Direction for each school in Nanzan
Gakuen: Nanzan University” found in the “Basic Policy Statement of the Chairman of the Boardof Directors” issued in 2005, states that the University “sees itself as playing a central role
among the schools of Nanzan Gakuen, and will display leadership towards alliance education.”
The Gakuen Alliance Committee has been discussing how the Gakuen alliance should function.
Specifically, regarding the alliance between the University and Nanzan Junior College andbetween the University and Nanzan Kokusai (International) Junior and Senior High School,committees were founded. With the former, an interim report was issued recommending theformation of a Junior College Faculty within the University. With Nanzan Kokusai Junior andSenior High School, an interim report by the committee is expected soon. I request yourcooperation in the discussions regarding the implementation of these plans.
The following are some of the examples of the collaboration with Nanzan Primary School.
University students participated in the Primary School’s After School Program, primary school
students participated in an Overnight Study Program at the University, and university students
participated at the Primary School’s Sports Festival. We intend to further enhance our alliancewith the Primary School.

62. Advancement of Collaboration with Other Universities and with Industry
Cooperation with external entities, e.g. the procurement of funds from external sources and thecollaboration with other universities and with Industry, is indispensable for the advancement ofresearch and education at the University. “Internal enrichment” within Faculties and Graduate
Schools is necessary to obtain cooperation from external entities. The following collaborations
among universities are in progress: collaboration between Nanzan School of Law and Nagoya
University Law School on education of legal professionals at law school; collaboration related
to FD with the Nagoya Consortium for Faculty and Staff Development; collaboration between
the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences and Information Engineering and Nagoya
University following the completion of the “Leading IT Program”; and the ongoingcollaboration with Toyota Technological Institute. I request that Faculties and Graduate Schools
consider ways in which similar university collaborations can be actively reinforced andadvanced to make high quality research and education a reality at the University.
Regarding collaboration with Industry, the following collaborations are in progress:
collaboration related to personnel development training and methodology between the Graduate
Program in Educational Facilitation within the Graduate School of Humanities and various
corporations; collaboration related to transportation economics between the Graduate School ofBusiness Administration and Central Japan Railway Company; and the collaboration in theareas of Software Engineering and Operations Research between the Faculty of Information
Sciences and Engineering and various corporations. I request that Faculties and Graduate
Schools consider ways to advance collaboration with Industry in research and education.
3. Collaboration with the Local Community
Several University projects are contributing to the local community through the offering of
lectures through Nanzan Extension College, through various research centers, through the
Anthropological Museum of Nanzan University, as well as through participation in projects
offered through the SETO Consortium of Universities. In addition to these projects, during thelast academic year, the Center for Legal Practice-Education and Research started offering“Legal Clinic” (free legal counseling services). Additionally, as an educational program
centering on collaboration with the local community, there has been a collaborative initiative
between a seminar class in the Faculty of Policy Studies and Seto City’s Natural Environment
Office. This initiative was selected as a Community Building Collaboration Program of 2008 by
the SETO Consortium of Universities. I am expecting to see more contributions in the area ofcollaboration with external entities and local communities through various activities such as
those mentioned above.
We need to see a greater dissemination to society of the knowledge we have accumulated. We
will continue to offer programs for the local public within the Nagoya American Studies
Summer Seminars (NASSS) and Nanzan University’s Lecture Series, which is going to mark its
fifth year. The University should actively engage with the various problems that local society
faces through, for example, the dissemination of the results of urban infrastructure research aspart of the “Planning and Dissemination of the Optimal Operation Plan of Infrastructure for
Urban Sustainable Prosperity,” a research project selected as an “Open Research Center” projectby the Ministry of Education and Science in 2007.
V.

Entrance Examinations and the Admissions Campaign

The total number of applicants, combining the General, Center 50 and Center 100 Entrance
Examinations, was 21,701, a number that was, unfortunately, 490 less than last year, although it
was the third highest in Nanzan’s history. Making more use of external organizations than in the7past, we will analyze the reasons for the decrease in greater detail and will consider concrete
actions to increase the number of applicants in the future.
The Special Scholarship Program for the high performing applicants at the General Entrance
Examinations that was mentioned in last year’s Position Statement was implemented at the 2009
entrance exams. This scholarship program received major coverage in the media and obtained
positive social recognition. Considering the possibility that the current financial situation willfurther deteriorate, we need to continually enhance scholarship programs.
Discussions are in progress for the creation of systems that expand universal admissions, i.e.
expanding student admissions in terms of the students’ area, age and nationality among otherfactors. Particularly, I believe there is a need to actively admit working people and foreign
students into our graduate programs. Therefore, Graduate Schools need to consider actions thatwill lead to an increase in these numbers.
Our statistics show that, even in this economic climate, Faculties and Departments that haveundergone transformation and those that are developing attractive educational programs are
gaining applicants. In order to increase the number of applicants, we need to engage in internal
enrichment that creates a competitive difference. We must recognize that internal enrichment is
indispensable in each Faculty. Building on the admissions campaign strategies, each Faculty andGraduate School should actively search for that which will lead to the Nanzan Difference.

Michael CALMANO
President
Nanzan University8