With the RSP400, we have established the following long-term objectives; and by achieving these objectives, we make our " Vision 2039" a reality, which is what we want to achieve by the year 2039.
In facing the times ahead of us that are difficult to predict, roll out a new education throughout all Faculties that cultivates the following three aspects: (1) humanity through education that cultivates aesthetic sentiments based on the Founding Spirit of Ryukoku University; (2) a wide-ranging cultural education and a deep level of specialization; and (3) foundational qualities that are common to our university. Through this, we aim to foster the development of citizens with the qualities of “Magokoro”.
Amidst the predicted rise of artificial intelligence due to advances in information technology, as well as the resulting changes in the way that we work, we will no longer be able to consider and understand our work by looking upon it in the same way as before. Despite this situation, by constantly maintaining a "learner-centric" attitude as our basis, we will be able to become a revolutionary and highly creative organization that always keeps developing.
Global issues such as unusual weather patterns and climate fluctuations that are occurring around the world in recent years are having an effect on the sustainability of the entire human race. Dealing with these problems at the core will require changes to our socioeconomic system or, in other words, the presentation of a "new vision for society." Our university will bravely face the challenges posed by these issues by considering research and social contribution in an integrated way, as we move forward with diverse forms of research and establish organizational collaborations with various bodies including local municipalities, companies, NPOs, NGOs and so forth. To create values applied towards solving these issues, we will provide opportunities for our Faculty Members, Staff, and Students to actively participate. To this end, we will concentrate our resources within the university through complete operational improvements, creating the systems, frameworks, programs, etc. that are needed. Through this series of processes, we will create new knowledge and values that surpass our society up through the present, and take initiatives to create new roles for our university to realize our SDGs on a mid-term basis and contribute to creating world peace over the long term.
*"Collective impact" refers to how citizens in society including governments, companies, NPOs, schools and other diverse sectors will use their strengths and know-how, cooperating to solve complex and intricate social issues.
Finances support the various strategies and reforms in the RSP400. We believe that in the upcoming years, there will be major changes in society, the external environment, and the structure of our student body, making the situation even more uncertain. To maintain a sustainable university, we must establish a stable and healthy financial base. At the same time, we need to secure a vast amount of funds for the upcoming renovation and maintenance of our facilities that will be required; and we must ensure that a diverse range of options remain available for the future. We will create and implement financial and campus policies that will allow us to satisfy these various conditions.
The decreasing birth rate problem in Japan puts our university in an even more dire situation. We predict that the competitive environment we face against competing schools will grow increasingly fierce. In the event that competing schools move forward by rolling out similar kinds of instruction and learning, their initiatives become commodified and they are no longer able to retain their distinctiveness. On the other hand, our university is now entering an age where it is exposed to competition from universities around the world, due to the progress of globalization. Considering this situation, we will strive to further our individuality through elements such as the things that identify our university as well as the unique experience we offer here, and we will establish policies to nurture people who will make a contribution towards the development of society and towards world peace. In doing so, we will establish ourselves as a unique brand, positioned in a unique way.