Graduate School of International Culture and Communication StudiesWaseda University

DETEY, Sylvain Dean/Professor The Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies, Waseda University

The Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies (GSICCS) was founded in 2013, inspired by the same spirit of internationalization and pluridisciplinarity that had led to the creation of its affiliated undergraduate department, the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS), a decade earlier in 2004. One of the objectives of GSICCS is to train future “global leaders” from all over the world while re-examining the meaning of “global citizenship” for and from Japan in a research-oriented humanities and social sciences postgraduate program. GSICCS and SILS are both part of the Faculty of International Research and Education, along with the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies and the Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics. 

 Now, after more than 20 years of educational globalization, and at the dawn of a new, AI-saturated informational era, the challenges facing internationalization and interdisciplinarity in higher education in an increasingly competitive academic market seem as great as ever. This makes post-graduate education at GSICCS, at the heart of which lies the study of global communication, all the more relevant. Whether one looks at it from a social, cultural, or linguistic viewpoint—the three perspectives that shape GSICCS’s curriculum— “globalization” or “leadership” cannot be tackled without a higher and deeper understanding and experience of how communication works across individuals, categories, institutions, or nations. Going forward, the incorporation of AI-fueled information into all fields of human activity will require an adequate understanding and experience of how information, communication, and behavior interact, whether it be for commercial, political, legal, artistic, educational, or recreational purposes. New global leaders will need to address these issues with great care and intellectual finesse. 

 In this perspective, GSICCS’s aim is to offer a platform for intellectual development that balances critical independence and a spirit of inclusive cooperation.  

 After 10 years of existence, with a growing network of alumni from around 60 countries and regions, GSICCS appears to be on the right path to achieve its goals and aspirations, and I see my role as the Dean of GSICCS to be one of ensuring, with the cooperation of the Associate Dean and all the GSICCS faculty and administrative members, that it does indeed do so. 

MORIMOTO, Mariko Associate Dean/Professor The Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies, Waseda University

The Graduate School of International culture and Communication Studies (GSICCS) in Waseda university is a unique and diverse hub where students and faculty from various backgrounds and disciplines come together to push the limits of knowledge and innovation. The program prepares students for leadership roles upon graduation, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in disseminating new knowledge and innovations, as noted by Everett Rogers in his influential work, Diffusion of Innovations (1962).  

 Our graduates are expected to possess a range of skills and perspectives, which will enable them to drive forward-thinking initiatives in a global context. Education in English within the program goes beyond mere internationalization or globalization; it involves engaging with a wide range of topics that transcend cultural or national boundaries, preparing students to address global challenges with a multifaceted approach.  

 We encourage students to take the initiative and be receptive to new ideas, reach out to faculty beyond their research interests, and leave their comfort zones to interact with diverse individuals. We expect our students to be adventurous and enthusiastic, and we look forward to intellectual interactions with such students. The possibilities are endless as long as one is spontaneous and willing.