President's Message
Be a world-class educated person with a kind heart
～The Six Competencies that NUFS seeks in its students
～The Six Competencies that NUFS seeks in its students
| 1. Opening "Encounter" Opportunities and Being Patient1 |
| 2. The Six Competencies |
| 3. To Become a Truly Educated Person: Cultivating "Critical Thinking" and "Empathy” |
| 4. Learning at NUFS |
| Conclusion |
Ikuo Kameyama
1. Opening "Encounter" Opportunities and Being Patient
This is my message to all students at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS).
What do we learn for?
What do we learn for?
Answer. We learn to earn a living.
-Then, what is the purpose of life?
If asked that question again, I would like to answer.
I would say that we live to confirm the joy of living. Only when we can confirm the joy of life does human life have value.
So, how can we obtain joy and happiness? In order to obtain joy and happiness, we must have the courage to open up opportunities for "encounters" with our own strength. If we are unwilling to make that effort, we will never be able to obtain happiness.
Above all, you must have courage and not be afraid. Believe that you have the power. That is the key.
My motto is simple.
There is a saying, sit "Three years on a stone," but "Four years on a stone" is already a sign of great talent.
Be patient. It takes time to accomplish something worthwhile.
If asked that question again, I would like to answer.
I would say that we live to confirm the joy of living. Only when we can confirm the joy of life does human life have value.
So, how can we obtain joy and happiness? In order to obtain joy and happiness, we must have the courage to open up opportunities for "encounters" with our own strength. If we are unwilling to make that effort, we will never be able to obtain happiness.
Above all, you must have courage and not be afraid. Believe that you have the power. That is the key.
My motto is simple.
There is a saying, sit "Three years on a stone," but "Four years on a stone" is already a sign of great talent.
Be patient. It takes time to accomplish something worthwhile.
2. The Six Competencies
For the past 20 years, there is a phrase that has been frequently used in Japan: "Global Human Resources”.
However, I would like to rename to the students of Nagoya University of Foreign Studies a new image of human resources: "World Human Resources" with the word "World" instead of "Global”. “World Human Resources" refers to those who have a deep understanding of the world's pluralism and multiculturalism, while at the same time excelling in critical thinking and empathy.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, a sense of confinement began to grow throughout the Japanese society in which we live. As if to push us further, the Coronavirus disaster has driven more and more of us into a solitary shell, where we have become accustomed to living comfortably. But if we continue to live in our shells, there is no future for us, let alone Japan. The way out of this situation is to have an insatiable curiosity about the world and a firm recognition of its multifaceted values. What is needed above all else is the ability to use foreign languages and a broad education of various cultures. Do you know the Chinese saying, "Peaches and plums form a path beneath them"? Peaches and plums do not speak, but they do emit a fragrant aroma that attracts people to gather around them. Cultivation is exactly what is meant by “peaches” and “plums” in this saying. People will gather around an educated person who is well-cultivated and graceful. Peach and Plum are the image of the ideal human being that our university aspires to nurture. Do not underestimate the importance of culture. Because no matter how advanced the knowledge is, it will eventually become ingrained in people's brains and hearts as culture. The liberal arts contain a vast amount of knowledge that has been cultivated over the past 2,000 years of human history. We should not be blinded by the novelty of the immediate future.
-Then, what kind of human resources do we mean by "World Human Resources"?
A Global society is a "competitive" society where winning has the highest value. Despite the vastness of a global society, it sometimes results in a situation where there is only one winner. This is the negative aspect of “a global society.” The countervailing philosophy is the world. Without the peaceful "symbiosis" of the peoples of the earth, no victory, no joy, can promise sustainable happiness. Many of us are living in this contradictory situation, worrying and suffering. A "World Figure" is a person who is able to root multiple national identities in his or her heart, transcending cultural backgrounds.
-What is required for the development of "World Figure"?
First, a broad range of "liberal arts skills" and a high level of "specialized knowledge" cultivated on that basis are essential. Both of these will be supported by a high level of foreign language skills. No matter how advanced AI and automatic translation become, as long as human beings are "speakers," their mother tongue and foreign language will continue to have fundamental value in human activities. The person who has the ability to communicate his or her knowledge and expertise in one's mother tongue and foreign languages is the true "world human resource," which is my ideal.
So, what are the specific "powers" that are required of each of you in order to survive as a member of society? I would like to list six "powers" here.
These six abilities, qualities, spirit, and awareness must be acquired to become a "World Figure" in order to make a presence on the world stage, and at the same time, they are the "(ability) power" that students at NUFS should acquire through their university studies.
However, I would like to rename to the students of Nagoya University of Foreign Studies a new image of human resources: "World Human Resources" with the word "World" instead of "Global”. “World Human Resources" refers to those who have a deep understanding of the world's pluralism and multiculturalism, while at the same time excelling in critical thinking and empathy.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, a sense of confinement began to grow throughout the Japanese society in which we live. As if to push us further, the Coronavirus disaster has driven more and more of us into a solitary shell, where we have become accustomed to living comfortably. But if we continue to live in our shells, there is no future for us, let alone Japan. The way out of this situation is to have an insatiable curiosity about the world and a firm recognition of its multifaceted values. What is needed above all else is the ability to use foreign languages and a broad education of various cultures. Do you know the Chinese saying, "Peaches and plums form a path beneath them"? Peaches and plums do not speak, but they do emit a fragrant aroma that attracts people to gather around them. Cultivation is exactly what is meant by “peaches” and “plums” in this saying. People will gather around an educated person who is well-cultivated and graceful. Peach and Plum are the image of the ideal human being that our university aspires to nurture. Do not underestimate the importance of culture. Because no matter how advanced the knowledge is, it will eventually become ingrained in people's brains and hearts as culture. The liberal arts contain a vast amount of knowledge that has been cultivated over the past 2,000 years of human history. We should not be blinded by the novelty of the immediate future.
-Then, what kind of human resources do we mean by "World Human Resources"?
A Global society is a "competitive" society where winning has the highest value. Despite the vastness of a global society, it sometimes results in a situation where there is only one winner. This is the negative aspect of “a global society.” The countervailing philosophy is the world. Without the peaceful "symbiosis" of the peoples of the earth, no victory, no joy, can promise sustainable happiness. Many of us are living in this contradictory situation, worrying and suffering. A "World Figure" is a person who is able to root multiple national identities in his or her heart, transcending cultural backgrounds.
-What is required for the development of "World Figure"?
First, a broad range of "liberal arts skills" and a high level of "specialized knowledge" cultivated on that basis are essential. Both of these will be supported by a high level of foreign language skills. No matter how advanced AI and automatic translation become, as long as human beings are "speakers," their mother tongue and foreign language will continue to have fundamental value in human activities. The person who has the ability to communicate his or her knowledge and expertise in one's mother tongue and foreign languages is the true "world human resource," which is my ideal.
So, what are the specific "powers" that are required of each of you in order to survive as a member of society? I would like to list six "powers" here.
- The Power of Dialogue (communication)
- Activity
- Creativity
- Empathy
- The Spirit of Cooperation
- The Gift of Contribution
These six abilities, qualities, spirit, and awareness must be acquired to become a "World Figure" in order to make a presence on the world stage, and at the same time, they are the "(ability) power" that students at NUFS should acquire through their university studies.
3. To Become a Truly Educated Person: Cultivating "Critical Thinking" and "Empathy”
Universities are often described as places where "critical thinking" is developed.
-What is "critical thinking"?
“Critical thinking" refers to the ability to think objectively to examine, select, analyze, and synthesize knowledge and information obtained through one's own experiences, and to use it to guide one's own actions in the future. “Critical thinking" is an indispensable tool for staying grounded in today's highly competitive society. It is the greatest weapon for self-reliance.
At the same time, however, we must also keep in mind the ideal of peaceful coexistence with the people of the world. Only when we are able to share the joy of living together, we will be able to realize the value of our independence as individuals.
What, then, is the "power" that is indispensable for "symbiosis"? Needless to say, it is empathy, the ability to be united with the joy and suffering of others. I hope to nurture in the heart of each student the importance of compassion for others' pain and the simple desire to help others.
Empathy is the starting point for both a spirit of cooperation and a sense of social contribution.
At the same time, however, we must also keep in mind the ideal of peaceful coexistence with the people of the world. Only when we are able to share the joy of living together, we will be able to realize the value of our independence as individuals.
What, then, is the "power" that is indispensable for "symbiosis"? Needless to say, it is empathy, the ability to be united with the joy and suffering of others. I hope to nurture in the heart of each student the importance of compassion for others' pain and the simple desire to help others.
Empathy is the starting point for both a spirit of cooperation and a sense of social contribution.
-Empathy also nurtures the imagination for literature and art.
Empathy is the quintessential quality of a global member of society who has a deep knowledge of literature and art, can honestly share joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness with people, and at the same time can talk about the macro trends of global society.
4. Learning at NUFS
NUFS makes every possible effort to nurture individuals who can communicate with the world.
-The most important aspects of "learning" at NUFS
The most important aspect of learning at NUFS is to provide an education that is most suited to the abilities, qualities, and aspirations of each individual student. The foundation of all abilities lies in the Japanese language we use every day, our daily life, culture, and climate. We want our students to learn the basics of the Japanese language in parallel with their foreign language studies. In order to live with pride as a member of society, it is essential to have a good balance of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in Japanese, as well as in English.
At NUFS, our primary objective is to discover the latent communication skills within every student and cultivate the capacity for genuine, effective communication, ensuring the reliable conveyance of thoughts to others.
At NUFS, our primary objective is to discover the latent communication skills within every student and cultivate the capacity for genuine, effective communication, ensuring the reliable conveyance of thoughts to others.
-NUFS
NUFS is one of the most international universities in Japan with 140 native-speaking faculty members (60% of the total faculty). The campus is truly international, with Japanese students and foreign teachers and students invited from all over the world. In this blessed environment, we hope you will absorb the above six competencies, or rather, everything you can learn.
We Japanese are often emotionally driven and have a hard time speaking with a clear sense of purpose, but the goal of study at this university is to develop language skills that are practical and highly interactive. We hope to nurture language skills that will enable students to deliver expert knowledge backed by a rich culture to others, and to develop creative discussions to solve problems, rather than just Q&A style communication.
Above all, do not be afraid of failure. Failure is a stepping-stone to success.
We Japanese are often emotionally driven and have a hard time speaking with a clear sense of purpose, but the goal of study at this university is to develop language skills that are practical and highly interactive. We hope to nurture language skills that will enable students to deliver expert knowledge backed by a rich culture to others, and to develop creative discussions to solve problems, rather than just Q&A style communication.
Above all, do not be afraid of failure. Failure is a stepping-stone to success.
Conclusion
The identity of NUFS is "language”.
-The "language" is
Language is like a plow that cultivates the fertile soil of possibilities, bearing the fruits of the land. At the same time, it is also the joy of tasting the fruit. With the simple, earnest spirit of a young farmer, learn foreign languages and Japanese, embrace world cultures, understand the realities of the world and Japanese society, and experience the joy of being alive here. After entering society, use that accumulation as a springboard and spread your wings with all your might. Through your efforts and achievements, the radiance and future of NUFS will continue to be renewed day by day.
