As reported before, the first half of the Golden Week passed restlessly as always.
On the 6th, the Ambassador of Finland and I participated in Prof. Yoko Ishikura's class on "competitiveness" held at Hitotsubashi University business school. In the beginning, Prof. Ishikura raised the key important issues and then we discussed the issues. The students were raising their hands and expressing their views enthusiastically. They were expressing their own variant opinions and it was really a constructive and good time.
All lectures here are in English and around 70% of students are from overseas. The faculties can view typical businesses in the world through the internet, by using "Harvard Business School" as a hub and the evaluations of the faculties are also done in common way. Given such open evaluation, it would be hard for the faculties but they can be motivated by referring to the lectures conducted by many faculties all over the world. Though challenging for the faculties they have no reasons to complain. It's true, this is the scary part in the internet era, but it is also a pleasure to compete with global standards. Are there any such universities elsewhere? If not this way, universities in Japan cannot gather brilliant youngsters from all over the world since information is shared by everybody in this "flat" era. University faculties, I beg you all earnestly to work hard.
After the class, we spent time on lounge, enjoying wine happily and talking with the students of various countries, such as India, US, Bangladesh, Russia, Myanmar, Poland, Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Vietnam etc.. I wish to express my gratitude for the wonderful hospitality.
An article with full of suggestions and a recent comment by Prof. Ishikura about the ideal way and the evaluation of the higher education in the global age is available on her blog. Chairman of the institute, Mr. Takeuchi Hirotaka, his policy is very strict from the beginning, however it's really remarkable.
By the way, a follow-up on this is available(in Japanese) in Prof. Ishikura's blog. Please go through it.
