Every year, the Student Affairs Division takes a survey and uses the result for improving the quality of life of Waseda students. According to the 2016 Student Life Survey Report, approximately 80% of Waseda students feel that the University is making efforts for promoting diversity and building an inclusive community. Specifically, more humanities students and underclassmen tended to feel this way.
Waseda University respects diversity and welcomes students of all backgrounds, regardless of their race, gender, and disabilities. In 1884, Waseda accepted its first international student from China. Today, the University enrolls 5,066 international students (May 2016), and 3,034 students have gone abroad (June 2016), both being the largest numbers in Japan. Additionally, 12 female audit students were accepted in 1921 to encourage higher education for women.
In July 2016, the Office for Promotion of Gender Equality underwent an expansive reorganization and reopened as the Office for Promotion of Equality and Diversity. This Office will not only promote gender equality but also diversity as a whole, for example, by providing support for people with disabilities and for sexual minorities.
Furthermore, student organization Diversity Waseda presented a proposal to build Japan’s first LGBT Student Center on campus, which won the University President’s Award in Waseda Vision 150 Student Competition in March 2015. The University will be establishing the Student Diversity Center in April 2017. This Center, in collaboration with the Office for Promotion of Equality and Diversity, will serve all minority students so that they can focus on their academics and enjoy a fun and safe campus.
