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Congratulations message to graduating students

President Kaoru Kamata of Waseda University

To students who are graduating or have graduated, I would like to deeply congratulate you on your graduation. Well done everyone!

For those who of you who joined us as undergraduate students in 2014, that was the year when Waseda University established the Waseda International Student House (WISH), where students of different backgrounds from all over the world come together, live and interact with one another under the same roof. In the same year, Building No. 3, which is equipped with information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as multi-purpose space and rooms known as the W Space, was also completed to further enhance your learning experience.

In 2016 alone, Waseda University took in more than 7,100 international students who are crucial in helping us promote cultural exchange on campus among local and international students alike. Additionally, the University has also been offering more than 2,300 University-wide Open Courses covering diverse fields of study, as well as small-size classes to facilitate better teaching and learning.

One of the founding principles of Waseda University is to foster good citizenship in students. In other words, it has always been the mission of the University to produce students who would not only be global leaders, but also contribute to society and the world at large. In the QS Graduate Employability Rankings, Waseda University was ranked Japan’s 1st in 2016 and 2017, as well as 2nd in 2018. Correspondingly, these translate to world’s 33rd in 2016, as well as 26th in both 2017 and 2018, reassuring that Waseda’s graduates are highly evaluated and sought after by employers in various fields, both domestically and internationally.

While your journey as a student may have come to an end, your journey in learning has not and should not. In today’s society, you are not only required to excel in your own profession, but also to acquire knowledge outside your specialty because what is seen as different disciplines is becoming increasingly connected than before. This does not merely refer to professions in academia, but also those in the corporate world, non-profit organizations and government sectors.

In this rapidly changing world, there will be many challenging issues that you need to handle and solve. You will need to be able to grasp the essence of these problems and critically analyze them. In addition, you will also have to work closely with people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities to deal with these problems. Recognizing the importance of life-long learning, Waseda University has been thinking of ways to promote such learning, for instance through online courses. The University aims to be a university that would facilitate adult learning where graduates or working adults could come back anytime they like to further their education.

Once again, congratulations on your graduation!