Office for Promotion of Equality and Diversity早稲田大学 ダイバーシティ推進室

Kohei Ito, President of the Keio University

On July 3, 2023, a Diversity Symposium was jointly held by the Keio and Waseda Universities at the North Hall, Mita Campus of the Keio University. This was a hybrid-type event, including participants at the venue as well as a Webinar.

This was the first joint symposium held by the two universities to promote diversity.

The Symposium began with greetings from Kohei Ito, the President of the Keio University, and Akiyo Okuda, a Vice-President of the Keio University and Director of its Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Session 1 comprised a cross-talk moderated by Vice-President Okuda. A passionate discussion ensued on the meaning and significance of diversity from the perspectives of the university and general society.

Session 2 was a round-table discussion on the theme, “Diversity at Waseda and Keio, in consideration of the diversity of society.” Takashi Aso, a Vice-President of the Waseda University, served as moderator. Graduates from both universities, now active in a variety of fields, gathered for this round-table. A lively discussion was held, and numerous viewpoints were shared and debated.

Session 2 (from left, Ms. Yoko Hayashi, Ms. Mami Tani, Ms. Chiaki Mukai, Mr. Takashi Aso (Vice-President of the Waseda University)

Takashi Aso, Vice-President of the Waseda University

To conclude the symposium, Vice-President Aso spoke these inspiring words: “We look forward to the time when we will no longer use the term ‘diversity promotion.’ At that stage, we hope to have realized a society where all people will live and thrive as individuals who are ‘one of them, and one of us.'”