Leading the transformation of Japanese society with three global promotion strategies through the convergence of knowledge

Towards the 150th anniversary of Waseda University

【Key Points】

• Waseda University will promote its 150th Anniversary Project with an eye to the period beyond 2032, when the university will celebrate its 150th anniversary.  By 2050, Waseda aims to become a university that contributes to global society and simultaneously leads the transformation of Japanese society.
• Returning to the "founding spirit" of our founder, Shigenobu Okuma, Waseda will contribute to humanity through the convergence of knowledge by placing the promotion of global research, global education, and global citizenship at the heart of the project.
• The 150th Anniversary Project Promotion Committee, led by Chairman Seiji Nakata (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Daiwa Securities Group Inc.), will promote the project by actively communicating its developments.

The year 2032 marks the 150th anniversary of Waseda University's founding, and will be a major turning point for Waseda University to become "a university that contributes to humanity" by 2050. To achieve this goal by 2050, the 150th Anniversary Project will be promoted through activities based on research, education, and contribution through the convergence of knowledge, leading the transformation of Japanese society.

 

Overview of Waseda University's 150th Anniversary Project

The 150th Anniversary Project returns to Waseda's founding spirit of "Independence of Scholarship", "Practical Application of Scholarship", and "Fostering of Good Citizens" based on the philosophy advocated by the University's founder Shigenobu Okuma, "Do not think only of your own interest, your family's interest, or the interests of your country alone, but be ambitious to contribute to humankind throughout the world." Based on the three pillars of "Waseda's Research," "Waseda's Education," and "Waseda's Contribution," we will develop the "Global Research Promotion Project," "Global Education Promotion Project," and "Global Citizenship Promotion Project" as shown in Figure 1. By contributing to humanity through the convergence of knowledge, we will aim for coexistence between humanity and nature, point out solutions to the issues facing humanity, and lead Japan to become a meaningful presence in the world.

Examples of planned and ongoing projects to contribute to humanity

Research project to support disaster-affected areas and victims through science and technology

We will identify the support needs of disaster-affected areas and victims, reflect them in our research, and share the results of our daily activities in research and human resource development (education) areas. For example, by progressively combining the development technology of robots and AI, the knowledge of volunteer centers on supporting disaster-affected areas, and emergency medical care through collaboration between medicine, science, and engineering, we will provide the necessary resources to the necessary places as quickly as possible in the event of a disaster.

Project on scientific research on peace and its social implementation

As an empirical and practical peace science research project, we will use AI to analyze big data on wars and conflicts from the past 200 years and identify their causes based on scientific evidence. We will then use that empirical data to make policy recommendations to prevent wars and conflicts before they occur.

Carbon Neutral Society Research Project

In order to stop global climate change, we will minimize CO2 emissions and realize the effective and efficient use of renewable energy. We will promote research that combines the arts and sciences to bring about change in Japanese and global society as a whole, such as zero-carbon energy, climate change science, and transformation of human society, and we will cultivate human resources who will contribute internationally.

Initiatives supporting the commemorative project

The promotion of "Global Research," "Global Education," and "Global Citizenship" will be supported by the following cross-sectional initiatives:

Strengthening Global Engagement

In order to become a university that is open to the world and has an international interface that allows free entry and exit, we will promote the international circulation of talented people by making it possible for all undergraduate students to study abroad, strengthening support for joint research with excellent researchers overseas, strengthening the system of industry-academia collaboration with domestic and overseas companies, and closely coordinating with benchmark universities. We will continue to actively invite excellent researchers from various fields from all over the world to promote international joint research, and with a view to further internationalizing the composition of our faculty, we will conduct international open recruitment for all faculties and graduate schools.

We will also establish a Strategic Policy Committee to receive advice from outside experts on how to become an internationally competitive university.

Development of a new educational and research environment

With the aim of becoming a university that is integrated with the city, we will expand the education and research environment by proceeding with the construction of Tower E (tentative) on the Waseda Campus, reconstructing Buildings 52, 53, 54, and 59 on the Nishiwaseda Campus, and construction of Phase III of the Waseda University Senior High School.

Promotion of the Anniversary Project

In order to communicate the current state of Waseda University, its efforts, and its future vision, we will launch a 150th Anniversary Project Promotion Committee in October 2025, which will be composed of alumni who have actively supported the university, as well as graduates who are making significant contributions in the business world and other fields.

Greetings from Mr. Seiji Nakata

There is something we would like to achieve through our 150th Anniversary Project. That is for the graduates who have grown up at Waseda University to "connect" with each other across regions and generations. No matter how excellent the human resources we foster, no matter how excellent the technology we create, if we are not organically connected, we will not be able to realize our true value. And if we can connect organically, we will be able to create chemical reactions that are more valuable than we can imagine.

I hope that our graduates will learn about Waseda University's initiatives, get involved in them in whatever way they can, and take pride in them. We are currently discussing with President Tanaka the composition of the Committee that will be the core of these efforts, and will introduce it to you once it has been finalized.

Waseda University's 150th Anniversary Project is not simply a celebration of past glories, but rather a way to create new networks and opportunities for mobilizing the wisdom of each and every alum from around the world to tackle modern social issues.

We ask for each and every one of you to support and participate in this endeavor. We look forward to carving out a new era together with you all.