Advanced Research Center for Human SciencesWaseda University

Director of the Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences

Shoji Nishimura

In September 2004, Waseda University established a new faculty organization, the School of Sciences. Until then, Waseda University faculty members were mainly affiliated with faculties or independent graduate schools. However, each faculty had a graduate school and an institute of the same name, and although the members of both organizations were almost the same as the faculty members of the faculty of the same name, they operated their own independent organizations, and it often took time to coordinate between them.

The advancement of education and research, openness, and internationalization have prompted Waseda University to create an organic and efficient organization. In response, Waseda University decided to merge the under graduate schools, and the research institutes (research centers) of the same name into a single organization called “GAKUJUTSUIN” i.e., faculties formerly known as “GAKUBU”. The decisions made by the undergraduate schools, the graduate schools, and the research centers were finally discussed at the Faculty Council.

In this way, in September 2004 the Waseda University Research Center for Human Sciences took a new step forward as a research institute within the Faculty of Human Sciences in September 2004. The Center for Human Sciences was previously an organization that conducted commissioned research and joint research with other universities and companies, but now, as an organization of the Faculty of Human Sciences, it plays an important role of connecting various people with the Faculty of Human Sciences through research.

The School of Human Sciences is an educational institution that awards Bachelor’s degrees (human sciences), and the Graduate School of Human Sciences is an educational institution that awards Master’s degrees (human sciences) and Doctoral degrees (human sciences). We believe that education is not something completed only in schools; it is a continuing process at home and in society as well. In this sense, collaboration between educational institutions and society is crucial. The Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences hopes to serve as a window to connect the various needs of society with the students and Faculty of Human Sciences. We also focus on fostering young researchers through various kinds of social collaborations and research projects.

We hope that you will make use of the Advanced Research Center for Human Sciences as a familiar entrance to the Faculty of Human Sciences.