The Josai University Educational Corporation (Chancellor Noriko Mizuta) commemorated the 50th anniversary of the university's founding with a “World University Presidents Forum” in the 3rd Building International Conference Room at Tokyo Kioicho Campus on November 1, 2015. Both Josai University President Yasunori Morimoto and Josai International University President Hakuo Yanagisawa attended the forum. They were joined by presidents and vice presidents from about forty different sister universities around the world. On the previous day, all the participants had enjoyed the Commemorative Ceremony and Celebration for Josai University’s 50th Anniversary, which was held at the Sakado Campus. The theme of the discussion was “A Global Society and High Level Education: A Proposal for Japan's International Education in a New Era.” Participants actively exchanged ideas about their countries’ and universities’ current situations as well as their hopes for the future. With so many universities in attendance from various countries, it was truly a meaningful and valuable experience.

At the start of the forum, Chancellor Mizuta addressed the attendees. “Japan has reached a certain level in international cooperation, economics and politics. However, we are sadly falling behind in international education. If we want to advance international education, it is imperative that we collaborate and share information with our partner universities overseas. I ask that you share with us your efforts for the globalization of education, as well as any challenges you have faced,” she said. “I would like to hear any advice you have for us.”

University management expert Hiromichi Yoshitake served as moderator for the event, which was organized into two parts. Mr. Yoshitake is a professor of Business Science at the University of Tsukuba and also an external committee member to the Josai International Center for the Promotion of Art and Science. During the first half of the forum, presidents and vice presidents from twelve different universities presented their thoughts and experiences dealing with the globalization initiatives and challenges at their respective universities. Represented universities included the University of Cologne (Germany), the University of Burgundy (France), the University of Cambridge, Budapest Business School, Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania), the University of Łódź (Poland), Busitema University (Uganda), California State University at Long Beach, Foreign Trade University (Vietnam), Management & Science University (Malaysia), Dongseo University (South Korea), and Tianjin Foreign Studies University (China).

When he addressed the forum, Vice President Gregory Wegmann of the University of Burgundy pointed out, “Distance learning is becoming essential for international exchange. Furthermore, I’d like to expand it to integrate with other programs we have.” University of Łódź President Wlodzimierz Nykiel gave an example of how his university has tried to implement international exchange. “When we created a special program for our 1-term study abroad students, 220 students from China enrolled in the program.” “We started a scholarship fund in hopes of doubling our number of study abroad students by 2020, and we have been recruiting faculty members from around the world,” revealed Dr. Jeet Joshee, Vice President of California State University at Long Beach. He added, “Building up a person’s character is necessary for a global education. It is clear that Josai University knew this fact even fifty years ago,” referencing the university’s founding principle of “character building through learning.”
　 Dr. Jekuk Chang, President of Dongseo University, discussed a global online course system called GAA (Global Access Asia). The system was created by twenty universities in twelve different Asian countries, including Josai University. “We want to make it a program that also focuses on the problems within the Asian region. Please consider joining the GAA,” he asked. Tianjin Foreign Studies University President Xiu Gang proposed his idea of the future, saying, “From here on, the image of the ideal person will require one to possess an international outlook, the ability to adapt, and the ability to act. Universities have to create a platform for that purpose.”
　 During the second half of the forum, participants exchanged opinions regarding the ideas presented by each university in the first half. While it is important to deal with issues like problems surrounding fundraising for study abroad students and the dilemma of whether a university should be a research institution or an educational institution, some attendees did not want to stop there. There were also calls for discussion on national assistance and regional matters.

Professor Yoshitake gave closing remarks. “Thank you all for your diverse and valuable contributions to today’s forum. This has been extremely informative for not only Josai University and Josai International University, but for all Japanese universities. Everyone’s circumstances are different, but we learned that we also have many of the same concerns.” He concluded with, “I hope we each continue to devote ourselves to these issues, and I hope we continue to discuss them with other universities and countries.”