President’s Position Paper for 2023
To all staff at Nanzan University
I. Basic Position
This fiscal year (FY) 2023 marks the beginning of my second term as University
President. Thus, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all who supported
Nanzan University’s various activities over the past three years, which weregreatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the next three years, I will, with
the new executive team, do my utmost to meet the changing needs of society
and fulfill the mission of our university.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, “New wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
It was common knowledge to those who heard Jesus’ words, based on their lived
experience that if “new wine,” still fermenting, was put into an old wineskins, thewine would make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins would be ruined.
As I enter this new second term of office while we emerge into the post COVID19 era, I cannot but particularly remember these words of Jesus.
Recently we have been increasingly faced with such challenges as the effective
use of new technologies popularized during the pandemic and the care of those
who are anxious because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working together we mustthen address the various disparities, injustices, environmental destruction, andother global problems of the modern world that the pandemic has so far revealed.
Entering a new era, it is incumbent upon us to strive to intelligibly create a “newstatus quo,” rather than reverting to the old one.
The previous year was marked by two important events. One was the openingof the Janssen International Residence—which inherently reflects our roots as a
Catholic university. The other striking event was the presentation of the first
Nanzan University “Human Dignity Award.” In this respect, I am most grateful toeach and every member of our faculties and staff who supported our collective
efforts to take these major steps forward in both promoting the university’s
characteristic of internationality and advancing its educational motto, “Hominis
Dignitati [For Human Dignity]. In addition, on April 1, 2023, we accomplished theopening of the Nanzan University Reiners Central Library, which best embodies
the spirit of our educational motto. Standing on this solid foundation, I lookforward to working with you in developing a vision for the future of Nanzan
1University as we move toward the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of its
founding in 2046.
I believe that the timeliness of the policy of “Global Concern and Our
Contribution,” I laid out three years ago, when I first assumed the presidency, hasbeen proven in the subsequent experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In thisprocess, we have realized together how important is our unique contribution inthese crucial times, especially when the destinies of humankind are deeplyinterconnected. Let us together, therefore, work to discover new possibilities tocreate a university befitting of the “new status quo”, and contribute concretely tothe creation of a new world.
II. Vision for the Future
1. Developing Long-Term Goals and Revising Public Relation Strategies
based on Branding
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Nanzan University, we looked backon its history and reaffirmed that it has been actively engaged and ever-evolving
in educational and research activities based mainly on its internationality and its
educational motto, Hominis Dignitati. In order for our university to continue to be
an attractive and chosen university in a rapidly changing world, it is necessary tofurther increase the value of our university by responding to these changes andcontinuing to grow.
Our university has long been supported by its former students, alumni
associations and friends, as well as many other people of good will, companies,
and organizations. In this regard, I urge you to carry out efforts to strengthen thealumni system to strategically implement branding that reaffirms the value of theuniversity to its supporters and further deepens its relationship with them.
To this end, I would like first to ask you to take pride in your part in thisorganization and to explicitly begin preparing for the formulation of new long-termgoals in anticipation of the university’s 100th anniversary. Note in passing that the
Nanzan University Grand Design—which was formulated in March 2007 as avision for the future 20 years—will reach its completion in 2027. In addition to theissues that were not fully accomplished in the interim evaluation in 2020, I would
encourage everyone to now consider various important ways in which theuniversity can develop smoothly, taking into account that various factors havechanged immensely, such as the social conditions that have changed drasticallysince the Corona virus outbreak and the development and rapid spread of ICT
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technology.
The next important matter for consideration is your collective attempts to
conduct more strategic public relations activities to effectively communicate theuniversity’s educational philosophy and initiatives, as well as its academic
achievements and values, so that they can be more widely known by society. It
is my contention that such an approach will not only allow us to increase thenumber of potential students (within Japan and from abroad) who want to study
at Nanzan University, but also to expand the network of different people who areeagerly devoted to supporting its activities. Going forward, under the leadershipof the President’s Office, I ask that the existing institutions of the university work
closely together to better enhance the effective public relation strategies set inmotion.
2. Future Plans for Undergraduate and Graduate Schools
In April 2023, we opened the Master’s Course in Data Science in the Graduate
School of Sciences and Engineering. In order to both allow students to continue
their studies in the newly established departments as a result of thereorganization in FY2021 and further develop their expertise, I would also
encourage faculty members here to start working toward the opening of the
Master’s and Doctoral Programs of the Graduate School of Sciences andEngineering in April 2025, in conjunction with the completion year of the Facultyof Sciences and Engineering. In addition, I would like you to look again criticallyat the Faculty of Foreign Studies, which supports the internationality of theuniversity. Please make any reforms and improvements from the perspective of
how it should be further developed and strengthened in light of recent social
needs.
3. Stable Financial Management
In order to maintain and improve the attractiveness of our university, it isessential for us to establish a stable financial base. However, our attempts toachieve certain mid-term targets for finances indicated by the school and toenhance education and research ultimately requires now that special attention be
paid to the capacity-filling rate, which is directly related to the foundation of thefinancial base. In addition, I would encourage you to continually share ideas andstrengthen your efforts to secure new financial resources, such as obtaining
subsidies and diversifying endowment funds. Unexpected expenses, such as therecent sharp rise in utility costs, have had an impact on our financial operations.
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It is in this context that I ask for your continued cooperation in saving energy andelectricity.
III. Promotion of Internationalization
1. New Step of Internationalization: Promotion of University-WideInternationalization and Development of NU-COIL
In order to take up the next stage of the internationalization (includinginternational exchange, expansion of the network of partner universities, and
COIL-type classes) that Nanzan University has so far promoted, each Faculty,
Graduate School, and Administrative Division should work together with theInternational Center to further promote internationalization in research exchange,
curriculum organization, and other educational activities. The MEXT’s program—“Project for Strengthening the Global Development Capabilities of Universities(U.S.A.)”—adopted in FY2018, came to an end in FY2022. Throughout this year,
I would nevertheless invite you to review the results of this program and strive toestablish a framework for future continuation of the program so that it can become
self-sustaining. Since NU-COIL, established through this program, is highly
regarded as being effective not only in terms of educational effects, but also as apublic relations tool for admissions, and can be used as SD for faculty members,
I think it is appropriate that each faculty and graduate school consider further
increasing the number of COIL-type classes in cooperation with the NU-COIL
office.
2. Preparation for the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Center
for Japanese Studies
In 2024, the Center for Japanese Studies, which symbolizes the internationalityof our university, will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Please prepare yourselves
for events to commemorate this milestone. I would also ask you to take thisopportunity to consider various ways to make more effective use of the Japanese
language education achievements of the Center for Japanese Studies forInternational Students and its global network to promote the internationalizationof the university as a whole.
3. Expansion of New Programs for accepting International Students
The Nanzan Anime Study Tour Program sponsored by the Center forInternational Affairs will begin soon as a new program for accepting international4

students. This is a striking program that combines academic theme classes withfield trips. As matters stand today, this program is quite unique to our university
in terms of its commitment to regional cooperation and internationality. In addition
to the benefits of our students learning together, this appears to be a financiallysustainable initiative. Meanwhile, please continue to focus particularly on further
program development for our international students.
4. Securing Study Abroad Opportunities and Support
Since some students have lost the opportunity to study abroad due to the
COVID-19 crisis, I encourage everyone to put intensive effort into securing longterm study abroad opportunities for our students. In addition, much commitment
is needed to devise support for more students to participate in short-term study
abroad programs that will motivate them to learn foreign languages and study
abroad for longer periods.
5. Further Revitalization of International Exchange on Campus
The Janssen International Residence, which opened at the beginning of the last
fiscal year, has been able a large number of international students from
September 2022, creating an inclusive environment where students with diverse
cultural backgrounds and values can live together. I ask that you make further
efforts aimed at developing the Diversity and Inclusion Practical Skills
Development Program. In addition, I would invite you to consider various effectivemeans to encourage students to actively use the on-campus Multicultural
Exchange Lounge (Stella), the World Plaza, the Japan Plaza, and otherinternational exchange venues.
IV. Education and Research
1. Improvements based on the Results of Accreditation Evaluation
Based on the results of the FY 2020 accreditation evaluation by the Japan
University Accreditation Association for Academic Degrees and University
Evaluation (JUAA), our university is now working to improve the existing methods
for understanding learning outcomes in the faculties. In order to formulate a Draft
University-wide Policy for Developing the Three Policies as the basis for the
improvement, we are considering the definition and content of Nanzan’s Bachelor
Degrees, which will serve as a framework to connect the University Diploma
Policy and the Undergraduate and Departmental Diploma Policies. The Internal
5Quality Assurance Committee should take the lead in formulating improvement
plans toward FY2024, when an interim improvement report will be submitted to
the JUAA. It is necessary that you continue to work intensively on progress inthese areas.
2. Examination and Evaluation of Educational Methods
The Standards for the Establishment of Universities and other relevant
standards were revised in FY 2022. The revised standards call for “realization oflearner-oriented university education” and “realization of quality assurance open
to society.” In line with these requirements, I encourage each faculty to takeconcrete and visionary action on the curriculum, core faculty members, andpositioning of major courses, etc., so that the university’s educational activities
can be enhanced and the quality of student-centered education can be
guaranteed. In doing so, I invite everyone to begin substantive discussions on
how to improve educational management based on Institutional Research (IR)and other relevant initiatives.
Nanzan introduced 100-minute classes in FY2021. Throughout this FY 2023,
however, there is clearly a need for collaborative work at different faculties to
examine and evaluate 100-minute classes. University education is also required
to promote students’ independent learning. From this perspective, too, pleaseconsider the effective use of various online tools in education, including theeffective use of online tools.
3. Further Development of Education and Research Activities
To further enhance education and research activities at the university, it isnecessary for each institution and department to collaborate acrossorganizational borders while simultaneously taking advantage of their respective
characteristics. In order to achieve expected educational results that can make aunique contribution in this new era, it is also necessary for faculty members andstudents belonging to faculties and graduate schools to continue bringing theirown expertise and having opportunities for research exchange across disciplines.
To ensure such opportunities, the university’s three distinctive research institutes(Anthropological Institute, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, and Institutefor Social Ethics), research centers, and the Nanzan University Museum of
Anthropology should play a central role in developing concrete plans aimed atcreating opportunities for intellectual exchange at the university.
Along with such a move, efforts should be made to transform the Nanzan
6University Reiners Central Library into an attractive venue, where many students
and faculty can gather and engage in intellectual exchange by realizing andpublicizing its key concepts of “encounter,” “connect,” and “change.” The basic
objective is to make it an essential center for education and research at theuniversity. In addition, I encourage you to further promote its open access toeveryone by exhibiting your own research results and other valuable academic
information.
V. Student Support
1. Care for Students
During the COVID-19 crisis, the university has made significant efforts toensure educational opportunities by offering online classes, and resuming inperson or face-to-face classes and various events in stages while simultaneously
monitoring the number of infected students. Despite this, however, somestudents may feel that they have not been able to enjoy a fulfilling campus life.
Notable among them are new fourth-year students, who encountered the spreadof the infection upon entering the university. For this reason and many others, I
invite everyone to provide such students, including new fourth-year students, witheven greater care than before, such as ensuring opportunities for dialogue andinteraction among students and with faculty members and staff.
In FY2022, the university also established a support system for students whoneed reasonable accommodation. In accepting and implementing interventions
for students who require such social assistance, please continue to ensure that
all members of the university deepen their understanding of the issue and takeappropriate measures.
2. Extracurricular Activities that allow Students to be Dynamic
Regarding the extracurricular activities of students, which have stagnatedduring the COVID-19 crisis, I encourage everyone to create an environment andsystem that allows students to be more active on campus. In doing so, please
incorporate students’ opinions and ideas, and also take advantage ofopportunities such as the Sophia-Nanzan Sports Festival and the University
Festival. In realizing student ideas, please continue to support creative initiatives
by diverse students through the Nanzan Challenge Project, the Student
Exchange Center (Centrum), the Multicultural Exchange Lounge (Stella), andother activities. In addition, there is a deep-felt need to support new students so7

that they can continue to engage in extracurricular activities, making use of theirexperiences from high school.
3. Enhancing Career Support and Career Education
On account of the Corona virus pandemic, the methods of job interviewing andthe timing and methods of selection for job hunting have become remarkably
more diverse, and students have been adapting to these changes. In addition,
students’ attitudes and behaviors toward job hunting have also been changing.
Under these circumstances, I encourage everyone in this area to start initiating
constructive discussions to reexamine how to support job-hunting activities,
including those of international students. Special effort should be given toproviding students with information on career events, etc., and career educationfrom the first and second years. It is equally essential to continue to develop
initiatives to support entrepreneurship.
Regarding career support, it is important to become acutely aware of thenecessity to make effective use of the intellectual resources of the Nanzan
Extension College, which has courses that contribute to students’ careers, suchas certification acquisition and civil service examinations. Moreover, I proposethat the Career Support Division make further efforts to consider career support
for international students and graduate students and simultaneously developinternship (or externship) programs at companies and programs in collaboration
with other graduate schools for international students to broaden the range ofoptions for students.
VI. Entrance Examinations
1. Implementation of New Entrance Examinations and continued
consideration of the Entrance Examination System
A total of 17,530 students applied for the general and the university-widestandardized entrance examinations (individual achievement and common test
types) in 2023, a decrease of 985 compared to 18,515 in the previous year. In
addition, the total number of applicants for the three main entrance examinations,
including the one using the Common Achievement Test (with the first part
involving three subjects and the second five subjects), was 22,248, a decreaseof 1,196 students from 23,444 in the previous year. The new entrance
examinations, initiated after the introduction of the new curriculum, will be8

implemented next year. Please continue to closely analyze the trend of applicantsand consider appropriate measures.
Specifically, the new entrance examinations include (1) the “International
Student Admissions by Recommendation [Designated Senior High School]” as arecommendation system with designated overseas educational institutions, (2)the “School Recommendation Type Selection (for students with long-term study
abroad experience),” and (3) the “Admission Screening by Recommendation(Special Partner Schools)” for Catholic high schools that have concluded anagreement on high school-university cooperation. Given that each of these
entrance examinations is quite unique and unprecedented at our university, I
encourage everyone to take all possible measures to ensure that they are runsmoothly. In particular, the “Admission Screening by Recommendation (Special
Partner Schools)” requires close cooperation with each partner school, asclasses called “modules” are systematically given to second and third year highschool students in order to deepen their understanding of the university’s
educational content. To facilitate this, a close relationship with each partner
school is ultimately required. In implementing this program, I invite everyone tocontinue to be well-prepared to convey the appeal of our university to high school
students.
In recent years, however, the situation surrounding entrance examinations haschanged dramatically with the introduction of the Common University Entrance
Test and the implementation of new upper secondary school courses. The lattercourses test comprehension abilities and emphasize various activities that are
not limited to academic skills. In addition, I invite everyone to now contextuallycreate an environment in which students can utilize and develop thecomprehensive abilities they have cultivated at high school level after entering
the university. It is not possible to deal with this issue by focusing only on entrance
examinations. It will, rather, require more collaboration among institutions andfaculties, including extracurricular activities after admission and follow-up in theundergraduate departments. As the population of 18-year-olds continues todecline drastically, I encourage everyone to continue to examine the admissions
system from a medium to long-term perspective so that it can respond to various
social changes.
2. Strengthening Effective Admissions Publicity
In FY 2022 many high school students had the opportunity to visit our campus
through Open Campus Events and University Tours. At the same time, we have9continued to disseminate information through our webpage and SNS. With regard
to admissions publicity, taking into consideration the trend of informationacquisition by high school students, please continue to examine medium iseffective media in providing what kind of information, and put it into practice. In
addition, I encourage you to return to our founding philosophy and reexamine
how you can convey to high school students the appeal of the university’s
educational motto—Hominis Dignitati and the curriculum based on it.
VII. Role of the University in the Community and Strengthening of Various
Alliances
1. 70th Anniversary of the Nanzan University Alumni Association andStrengthening Cooperation
The Nanzan University Alumni Association has supported the university byproviding scholarships to students. In addition, this year they have provided
support for the establishment of the Alumni Garden in front of the Nanzan
University Reiners Central Library.
The Nanzan University Alumni Association was founded in 1952, andcelebrated its 70th anniversary last year. This year, a special event will be held
to commemorate that 70th anniversary. I would like to take this opportunity toonce again express my gratitude for the support of the alumni and ask you tostrengthen our ties so that we can further deepen our relationship between theuniversity and the Alumni Association. This is significant, given that the activitiesof our alumni around the world and in various fields are the hope of current
students and applicants who wish to study at the university.
2. Environmental Initiatives
Environmental issues can be positioned as a global concern to be addressedat the intersection of the university’s identity of internationality and its educationalmotto. In FY 2021, as part of the Nanzan Gakuen Environmental Declaration, we
actively participated in the Coalition of Universities and Colleges Contributing to
Achieving Carbon Neutrality. This year, we will continue to be involved in theprocess of formulating concrete plans to operate energy-saving measures forelectricity, air conditioning, and other facilities with the aim of reducing CO2
emissions.
Along with such day-to-day efforts, please promote active support for projects
related to environmental issues by students, and research and education led by
the university’s researchers related to environmental issues that lead to social
10implementation. Through these efforts, let us actively and insightfully send astrong message of “Global Concern and Our Contribution” to society.
3. Promote Intellectual Exchange with Local Communities
As a university that plays a vital role in the local community, I would invite you
to actively promote initiatives that connect the university with the local community.
In April 2022 our university became the only official educational institution partnerof Ghibli Park. Ghibli Park was opened under the concept of carrying on the spiritof Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, which was held with the aim of communicating a
direction for solutions to global issues and the way of life of human beings, basedon the principles of the “wisdom of nature” and “love for people, creatures, andthe Earth,” and thus its policies resonate well with the philosophy and initiativesof our university. As an official partner, then, the university’s goal is to play asignificant role in the return of “knowledge” through Ghibli Park. To achieve this,continued efforts will be necessary to promote attractive initiatives that will createa chain of return, whereby the “knowledge” produced by the university is returnedto the local community, and those who have developed an interest in the subject
will deepen their studies at the university.
In the same vein, I would encourage you to make effective use of the Nanzan
University Reiners Central Library and the Nanzan University Museum of
Anthropology as bases for connecting the university with the local community.
The entrance lounge and seminar rooms of the Nanzan University Reiners
Central Library are spaces full of possibilities to encounter people, books andknowledge, and provides a place that is full of possibilities for intellectual
exchange. In this new context, please work together toward the development of
attractive programs that will provide not only the university’s students and facultywith the kind of intellectual experience that can only be had in a university library,
but also those in the nearby community. As a universal museum, the Nanzan
University Museum of Anthropology has been meeting diverse needs, including
collaboration with other museums and comprehensive learning programs forjunior and senior high school students. Together with the Nanzan University
Reiners Central Library, I encourage you to play an active role in promoting
intellectual exchange as a center for collaboration within and outside theuniversity.
4. Promotion of Research Collaboration between Industry, Academia andGovernment
As part of the efforts to return the university’s academic achievements to the11local community, I invite you to actively promote industry-academia-government
collaboration with local companies and municipalities. In this regard, please begin
to consider how the research promotion system in our university should beorganized in order to further facilitate the already existing individual collaborations
and to further associations.
5. Further Promotion of Domestic and International Inter-university
Collaboration
As of the end of FY2022, the number of overseas universities and institutions
with which we have concluded student exchange agreements totaled 118
universities in 34 countries and regions. Let us continue to make efforts todevelop overseas partner universities, and consider concluding more interdepartmental agreements to further promote education and research.
In order to further enhance the attractiveness of our university, it is also
important to strengthen cooperation with other domestic universities that cancomplement each other’s strengths. In addition to the conclusion of interuniversity agreements, I encourage everyone to consider promoting a variety ofcooperative relationships, such as building partnerships among multiple
universities in which the university will play a central role in a consortium.
VIII. Conclusion
My first-term as University President has been a period in which I have worked
with all of you to overcome events that symbolize the unpredictable times we live
in. Even though, many of our assumptions have changed dramatically and theprocess has been difficult at times, it is readily apparent that we have gained
many new experiences and reaffirmed many important things. Now is the time tocreate a “new status quo,” and I believe that we are at a new starting point, bothas a university and as individuals contributing to the world. Now it is time for us
to be united, with the “Global Concern and Our Contribution,” which has been ourleitmotiv or motto since FY 2020 in mind.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the university’s founding, let us strive
to make it a more open place, an important locus for fostering intellectual
exchange and human resources that respects diversity, and a university that
continues to be attractive and chosen for its educational and research activities.
This FY 2023 is a time to take concrete and steady new steps toward that end.
Let us create a better future together.
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Robert Kisala
President
Nanzan University

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